HONG KONG – Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said on Monday she is very worried about the latest local coronavirus outbreak as Hong Kong reported six new COVID-19 cases.

The health chief voiced her concern a day after a 26-year-old woman, who spent a hotel staycation with seven friends, was confirmed as infected on Sunday.

Huge crowds celebrating Halloween were also seen at Hong Kong's nightlife areas over the weekend

Huge crowds celebrating Halloween were also seen at Hong Kong’s nightlife areas over the weekend. Some of the partygoers were believed to have violated the government’s social distancing rules.

Speaking on a public radio program, Chan said the government will consider toughening the measures if such violations frequently occur or people lack self-discipline.

“Winter is coming. We have to fend off a possible fourth wave of outbreak,” said Chan, who also noted that the distancing measures should not be relaxed further.

Starting last Friday, local restaurants can entertain up to six customers per table, up from four. The cap on the number of people allowed per table at bars were also relaxed to four persons from two, although dine-in service is still banned from 2 am to 5 am.

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Meanwhile, Hong Kong reported six new coronavirus infections on Monday, including the local infection cluster of three patients and three imported cases..

The trio included the 26-year-old woman, who spent a staycation at Seaview Holiday Resort in Mui Wo with seven friends between Oct 25 and 27, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said in a statement. Her last visit to her workplace in Wong Chuk Hang was on Wednesday, the same date she developed a fever and was then hospitalized.

The other cases were a 26-year-old man who was together with the woman during the staycation, and a 15-year-old boy related to her, the CHP said. The man, who had not been to his workplace since Oct 24, is an employee at Hong Kong Cable Television, the company confirmed.

The boy is a Form Three student at Fanling Lutheran Secondary School, which said in a notice that on-site classes would be suspended on Monday and Tuesday and all the classes will be switched online from Wednesday to Nov 14. 

READ MORE: HK reports three new COVID-19 cases, all imported

The rest of Monday’s new cases were all imported and from Pakistan, Indonesia and Russia. The city’s tally of confirmed cases stood at 5,336, according to the CHP.