The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating three additional COVID-19 cases, two of which are imported and one is epidemiologically linked with a local case.

The local case involves a 40-year-old woman who is a household contact of a previously confirmed case.

She joined previously confirmed cases at a family gathering at Fung Hing House of Hing Wah (II) Estate in Chai Wan on April 13. She also attended another gathering at 37 Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po on April 18, which was also attended by cases confirmed with the N501Y mutant strain earlier.

One of the new imported cases involves a 43-year-old man who lives at 29 Staunton Street in Central. He travelled to France on May 6 and returned to Hong Kong on May 9.

The man tested negative for COVID-19 on May 6 before departure. During hotel quarantine on his return to Hong Kong, he developed a fever on May 11 and was sent to Princess Margaret Hospital, where he tested positive.

According to his epidemiological information, he is classified as an imported case from France. As a prudent measure, the building in Staunton Street where he had stayed during part of the incubation period will be put under a compulsory testing notice today.

Following the announcement by the World Health Organization on the classification of the variant strain B.1.617 as the fourth variant of concern, the centre will, with immediate effect, use L452R as the indicator of the new variant of concern, similar to the practice of using N501Y as the indicator for the other three variants.

Those who test positive with the L452R variant will be managed with the same epidemiological control and prevention measures as those who test positive with the N501Y one.

Specified people in relation to 37-39 Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po are reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow.

A total of 59 cases have been reported in the past 14 days, including eight local cases, of which one is from an unknown infection source.

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at designated locations tomorrow. The service period of certain mobile stations will also be extended.

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