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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 3,807 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, while the Hospital Authority called on parents to watch out for a respiratory illness called croup among children.

A 20-month old girl who was infected with COVID-19 and then diagnosed with croup, is now being treated at United Christian Hospital. The toddler had tested positive via a rapid antigen test last Friday and was taken to the hospital yesterday after suffering from breathing difficulties and a fever.

She had stayed in the intensive care unit and was transferred to an isolation ward as her condition stabilised.

At this afternoon’s press briefing, the authority’s Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin said: “This is an inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchus due to a virus. In this case it is because of the COVID-19 virus.

“When the patient gets the infection in the (upper) airway, the airway will swell, thus blocking the airflow, which can be a life-threatening situation.”

Parents should seek medical care promptly if they find their children suffering from symptoms that include a bark-like cough, difficulty with breathing and emitting a high-pitched sound during breathing, Dr Lau advised.

Concerning the city’s overall epidemic situation, the centre reported that among the additional local cases, 1,428 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,379 via verified rapid antigen tests.

Meanwhile, 233 imported cases were detected and seven more patients passed away.

The centre added that eight care homes for the elderly and another three for disabled people have identified 13 COVID-19 cases.

There were also 692 virus cases reported from 402 schools, among which 11 classes have been advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for one week.

Additionally, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Kam Wei House of Kam Tai Court in Ma On Shan, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Due to a number of positive cases, 38 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers eight specified premises in Ma On Shan, Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Tin Wang Court in Wong Tai Sin and Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several buildings in Sai Kung, Tuen Mun, Kwai Tsing and North districts, the respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

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