Hong Kong health authorities today confirmed 32 new, locally-transmitted cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong today – including 11 people who live at the same public housing estate in Sha Tin, and nine cases spread across the territory whose source of infection remains unknown. 

At the same time, six more imported cases were confirmed, taking the overall COVID-19 tally in Hong Kong to 1,403.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the 11 newly-confirmed cases at Shui Chuen O housing estate was a cause for concern, since they all live in the same building as the first case that was confirmed on Tuesday.

She noted that government inspectors have already taken a look at the pipes of the building, and concluded that there was no discernible connection between the patients’ flats.

Chuang said it was more likely that the patients had picked up the virus in communal areas such as the lift.

The new infections were found after hundreds of residents were tested for the novel coronavirus in the wake of the first infection.

Authorities said more tests of people at neighbouring shops, wet markets and restaurants would be conducted.

Besides this growing new cluster, more cases were confirmed today linked to other previously-known cases centred on two restaurants. Several more taxi drivers were also confirmed to be infected.

And the son of a resident of an elderly home in Tsz Wan Shan - the centre of yet another outbreak - has also tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Dr Chuang said the elderly home resident had gone home for dinner for Father’s Day on June 28.

"This may have some link to the outbreak at the elderly home", she said.

- RTHK, MPD