A couple wearing face masks amid concerns of the COVID-19 coronavirus take a selfie in front of an Christmas tree inside a shopping mall in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong on Dec 24, 2020. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP）

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 42 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday with the city recording a new low since mid-November.

The new cases include 36 local infections, with 13 of unknown origin that pushed up the city's tally to 8,888. CHP also reported more than 30 preliminarily positive cases.

A total of 144 COVID-19 patients have so far passed away in public hospitals

According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 757 COVID-19 patients are currently being treated in public hospitals and at the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and 51 patients are in critical condition.

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A total of 144 COVID-19 patients have so far passed away in public hospitals. 

In order to curb the spread of the disease,  Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has taken stringent enforcement actions over the New Year period, covering the entire territory. FEHD also conducted joint operations with police in Central & Western, Eastern, Islands, Yau Tsim, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long districts yesterday. 

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In all, 370 catering premises and 27 other premises were jointly inspected and 563 catering premises and 39 other premises were inspected by FEHD alone.

An FEHD spokesman stressed in a press release that the department will continue to step up law enforcement and public awareness efforts over weekend and urged restaurant operators and the public to cooperate.

With Xinhua inputs