13 COVID-19 cases identified

February 19, 2021

Centre for Health Protection Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au:

(There was an) increase in the number of (COVID-19) cases with unknown sources (of infection) today, and the number of cases with unknown sources fluctuated in the past few days.

We are still worried because, for example, for today we have recorded eight unlinked cases. So there is evidence that there are still quite a number of silent transmissions in the community. Coupled with the large number of gatherings among the local population during the Chinese New Year, it is possible that some of the undetected cases may cause ongoing transmission in the community.

It is possible that some of the (people who have) acquired the infection during the gatherings in the Chinese New Year still have not (been detected) yet. So we need to closely monitor the situation to see if there will be any upsurge in cases in the coming one to two weeks.

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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 13 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 12 are locally transmitted.

Among the local cases, eight are untraceable.

These unlinked cases involve a Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre detainee, a worker at Buddhist Sum Ma Shui Ying Care & Attention Home for the Elderly and a Caritas Lok Yi School student.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Centre for Health Protection Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said: “There was an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases with unknown sources of infection today, and the number of cases with unknown sources fluctuated in the past few days.”

Dr Au said he is worried that silent transmissions in the community, together with a large number of festive gatherings, may bring a surge of new cases.

“We are still worried because, for example, for today we have recorded eight unlinked cases. So there is evidence that there are still quite a number of silent transmissions in the community. Coupled with the large number of gatherings among the local population during the Chinese New Year, it is possible that some of the undetected cases may cause ongoing transmission in the community.

“It is possible that some of the people who have acquired the infection during the gatherings in the Chinese New Year still have not been detected yet. So we need to closely monitor the situation to see if there will be any upsurge in cases in the coming one to two weeks.”

Additionally, seven buildings with one or more new confirmed cases are now covered by the compulsory testing notice.

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at North Point Community Hall, Yee On Centre in Kwun Tong and On Tin Estate in Lam Tin on February 20.

Meanwhile, the service period of the mobile station at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai will be extended to February 22.

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