Residents line up to get tested for COVID-19 at the Muk Lun Street playground in Wong Tai Sin district of Hong Kong on Jan 28, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The city’s health authorities on Friday confirmed 115 new COVID-19 cases, 111 of which are local transmission, as the city recorded triple-digit caseloads for six straight days. 

Among the new infections, sources of six could not be known immediately and four are imported, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health announced during a press briefing in the afternoon. 

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The new infections took Hong Kong’s tally of confirmed infections to 13,905, with 213 related deaths, with a government adviser saying that the situation had yet to be contained. 

Talking on a radio program, Prof David Hui said at least 90 hidden transmission chains were present in the community

Around a dozen patients were linked to outbreaks at Yuen Yuen Institute No. 3 Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O and Lee I Yao Memorial Secondary School in Kwai Chung, according to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the CHP. 

Some students from the pandemic-stricken Kwai Chung Estate might have transmitted the virus to their classmates or school staff, she said.  

Asked about who the new patients received the infections from, Chuang said some of the students said they didn’t know about anyone who were infected. 

Sources of infections of two retirees who live in Kwai Fong Estate and Tsz Wan Shan, two transport workers from Tai Wai and Tai Wo Hau, a student who lives in Tsuen Wan, and a factory worker who lives in Tin Shui Wai could not known yet. 

A staff member collects specimen at a testing tent set up at the Muk Lun Street playground in Wong Tai Sin district of Hong Kong on Jan 28, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

Another 80 people have tested preliminary-positive for the coronavirus, the CHP said, as the authorities fight a raging fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic.  

READ MORE: 2 preliminary cases found in Kwai Fong, Wong Tai Sin testing 

Currently, there are 808 patients who are being treated at different public health care facilities and all of them are in a stable condition. 

The revelation came a day after Hong Kong recorded 164 cases, the city’s highest caseload since the start of the pandemic last year. 

Talking on a radio program earlier in the day, government pandemic adviser Prof David Hui Shu-cheong said at least 90 hidden transmission chains were present in the community. 

It’s necessary to maintain current social-distancing measures, he said, cautioning that it is difficult to trace cases and the risk of more community outbreaks still exists. 

Besides taking precautions such as wearing masks and washing hands regularly, the residents should avoid family gatherings during the Lunar New Year, he said. 

CALL FOR TESTING 

The Hong Kong government on Friday appealed to the residents and those working in Tuen Mun to complete the required COVID-19 testing as soon as possible. 

Pointing out that positive results during recent sampling in the area indicate that there may be hidden cases in the district, the government said residents’ cooperation will help identify the hidden cases and stop the spread of the virus in the district. 

The call came after a review of compulsory testing notice records showed that some Tuen Mun residents have not completed testing by the specified dates.