Commuters line up to wait for buses in Hong Kong, July 22, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 18 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including three local infections of unknown origin.

Fifteen of Wednesday’s new cases were imported, including that of 12 people who arrived in the city on the same Nepal Airlines flight from Kathmandu on Tuesday, Director of Health Constance Chan Hon-yee said at a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

Fifteen of Wednesday’s new cases were imported, including that of 12 people arriving in the city on the same Nepal Airlines flight from Kathmandu on Tuesday

Following government policy, Nepal Airlines flight RA409 will be suspended for two weeks starting Thursday, Chan added.

The three local infections included that of a 23-year-old Hong Kong Baptist University student who lived in Tuen Mun, said Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

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The student visited the university’s Kowloon Tong campus on Nov 3 before she developed symptoms two days later, Chuang said.

The student spent staycations at Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour in North Point and Royal Plaza Hotel in Mong Kok during the incubation period, she said.

She also visited a beauty salon in Tuen Mun on Nov 4 and a dentist in Mong Kok on Nov 5, Chuang added.

Chuang said the second new local case involved a 76-year-old retired man who lived at Kwai Shing West Estate Block 9. He was found infected during a medical exam at Yan Chai Hospital.

Chuang added that the last local case involved a 44-year-old company manager who lived in Tsuen Wan and developed symptoms on Friday. Seven of his colleagues were classified as close contacts and would be sent to quarantine facilities.

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The city’s tally of confirmed cases stood at 5,407, according to the CHP.

Also on Wednesday, a 77-year-old taxi driver and a 47-year-old rehabilitation bus driver tested preliminarily positive, Chan said. 

The taxi driver, who lived with his wife in Sham Shui Po, developed a cough on Sunday. The bus driverpicked up people at schools, health centers and public housing estates across the city before he got tested, Chan added.

She also said that three other taxi drivers were classified as suspected cases and were awaiting results, Chan added that it would be “a serious alarm” if they were later confirmed to be infected.

Meanwhile, the Transport Department (TD) announced that, starting November 12 until November 18, another round of free coronavirus tests will be provided for taxi drivers.

The TD said it will set up four temporary testing kit distribution centers at the LPG filling stations (ECO) along Fung Yip Street in Chai Wan and Sham Mong Road in Mei Foo, the Tai Po Market Station GMB Terminus at Nga Wan Road near New Territories GMB Route 20C Terminus, and at the Yuen Long Station (North) Public Transport Interchange.