Visitors donning face masks have their body temperatures taken before entering Hong Kong's Disneyland on Sept 25, 2020. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY) 

HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said there was no room for further relaxation of the city’s social distancing measures as it seemed local residents had lowered their guards in recent days. 

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Meeting the press in his capacity of acting chief executive ahead of an Executive Council meeting, Cheung said social distancing rules set to expire on Thursday will be extended until Nov 19.

Matthew Cheung's statement comes a day after the Centre for Health Protection said it was investigating five outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection affecting three nursery schools, one kindergarten and one primary school, involving 108 children

Currently, it is mandatory to wear masks at most public places and a ban on public gathering of more than four people at a time is in force.

The government arranged for free coronavirus testing in Tai Po starting Monday as at least nine residents in the district were diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

Cheung said around 2,600 people had come forward to be tested as of Monday night.

Cheung stepped in for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor who headed to Macao on Monday to attend a technology and innovation forum scheduled for Tuesday.

Cheung's statement comes a day after Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection said it was investigating five outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection affecting three nursery schools, one kindergarten and one primary school, involving 108 children. While none of the children required hospitalization and were recovering well, the CHP strongly appealed to school staff to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

The schools have been advised to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections and have been put under medical surveillance.

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Cheung said the contact tracing mobile app "Leave Home Safe" that helps Hong Kong residents keep track of places they have visited would be launched this week. The app will enable health authorities to track contacts of COVID-19 patients more effectively, Cheung said.

Hong Kong will announce the details of a travel bubble with Singapore before the end of the week, Cheung said. It also plans to announce details on quarantine exemptions for Hong Kong residents returning from Guandong or Macao.

With inputs from Agencies