News Desk

Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 70 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, taking its total tally to 7,969.

The new cases included 64 local infections, with 25 cases of unknown origin, according to a press briefing of the CHP. According to Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority, 1,115 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, with 61 in critical condition. As far, 125 patients have died in public hospitals.

Also on Friday, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced that Canada will be placed on the list of very high-risk places from Dec. 25, following 19 countries including the United States, Britain, France, India, the Philippines and South Africa.

Visitors who have stayed in those countries during the past two weeks should have a negative test result for coronavirus within 72 hours before their departure and book a room in a designated quarantine hotel for no less than 14 days.

A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau of the HKSAR government said as the global pandemic situation is becoming increasingly severe, Hong Kong cannot afford to drop its guard on entry prevention and control measures.

Besides, visitors from a foreign country arriving in Hong Kong on or after Dec. 2 will have to take an additional virus test on the 19th or 20th day of their arrival in case the incubation period is longer than the two-week quarantine.

Xinhua