HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the infection tally to 4,604.

The new cases involved one imported case from India and 17 local infections, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch, said in a media briefing.

The newly reported cases included one imported from India and 17 local infections, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch, said

Among the local cases, 12 were related to previously confirmed cases while sources of the other five cases were unknown.

According to the city’s Hospital Authority, 660 patients are still hospitalized, including 31 in critical condition. The total number of related deaths rose to 75.  

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In light of the latest epidemic situation, the Hong Kong government said it would gradually resume the provision of basic public services that have been suspended or reduced in scale earlier.

In a press release issued on Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the Hong Kong government said more public services would be provided from Monday to meet the needs of the public. But he said the "current epidemic situation remains severe" and fighting the epidemic remains the top priority of the government.

The Housing Authority's public rental housing application office will open for three days a week while all the estate management offices will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

The Labour Department will resume all counter services on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Aag 24. 

The Transport Department will resume motorcycle driving test from Aug 31.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said more public services will be provided from Monday to meet the needs of the public

To limit the spread of the coronavirus, various departments will implement targeted measures while resuming public services, such as adopting a roster system or introducing flexible working hours to reduce the number of staff working in an office at any one time.

Free tests for fishermen 

On Thursday, the government also started to provide free COVID-19 testing services to all mobile fishermen based in Hong Kong and their deckhands on board vessels operating in mainland waters.

They are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result issued by one of the medical-testing institutions recognized by Hong Kong within 72 hours before entering the mainland.

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Distribution and collection of the sample bottles for deep throat saliva tests for the first round of testing were conducted at Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Fish Market and Castle Peak Wholesale Fish Market.

The bottles will be distributed from 8 am to 1 pm on Thursday and Friday and collected between the same time from Thursday to Saturday, according to a government press release issued on Thursday.

With Xinhua inputs