(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 13 additional COVID-19 cases, of which three are locally transmitted and related to each other.

The centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing this afternoon that the local cases had onset of symptoms on different dates. They went for virus testing on April 10 and tested positive.

The first case is a 55-year-old housewife who lives in Sham Tseng and has an unknown source of infection. The other two cases are her relatives and involve a 34-year-old woman who works in Central and a man aged 38 working in Cheung Sha Wan.

Dr Chuang reported that the patients had been grave sweeping and joined some gatherings with other relatives during their incubation and infectious periods.

“We believe that there are still some unknown (COVID-19) cases in the community given (there were, in) the past Easter holiday, some mixers and social activities. We expect that there may be some rebound in the cases, so we need to closely monitor the situation.

“For example, one or two (patients) of the (COVID-19) cases today, they had onset of symptoms quite early on - on April 4 or 5. They had gone to various places in the community, so there is (a) risk of spreading (the virus).”

Dr Chuang added that the housewife, who was the first to develop symptoms, lives in Tower 2 of Lido Garden in Sham Tseng and the other two patients had sometimes stayed over at her place.

Considering that the risk of infection in this building may be higher, the Government decided to make a restriction-testing declaration for Tower 2 of Lido Garden.

The declaration for the restricted area took effect from 8pm. People in the area subject to compulsory testing will need to be tested by 1am.

They will be arranged to undergo a nucleic acid test at the temporary specimen collection stations set up there, where staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs.

The Government will arrange door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and seniors.

It aims to finish the exercise by about 7am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the residential buildings where the patients reside and one of their workplaces are now included in the compulsory testing notices.

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at Kingsford Terrace, Ngau Chi Wan tomorrow for people subject to compulsory testing.

The 10 imported cases arrived from Pakistan, Indonesia, India, the Philippines and Japan.

Dr Chuang added that there are less than five preliminary positive cases, which are all imported.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.