An elderly man donning a face mask rests on a bench at Langham Place, Hong Kong, Aug 14, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 112 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the second-highest daily increase during the city’s fourth wave of outbreak, bringing the city’s tally to 6,701.

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The fresh infections included 100 locally transmitted cases, 36 of which were untraceable, Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said at a press briefing. Friday marked the highest number of new cases with sources of unknown origin since the fourth wave began in mid-November. 

A 38-year-old man has become the youngest COVID-19 patient to die in Hong Kong. He has contracted both the coronavirus and the Influenza A virus

A 38-year-old patient died on Thursday night, Hospital Authority’s Chief Manager Lau Ka-hin said at the same briefing. The man, who was admitted into the Queen Mary Hospital on Nov 28, has contracted both the coronavirus and the Influenza A virus.

He became the youngest COVID-19 patient to die in Hong Kong as the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the financial hub rose to 112.

Infection numbers continued rising in the city’s major infection clusters. The biggest one, which originated from a raft of dance clubs across the city, saw 17 more patients. The total stood at 607.

Nine new patients were health workers at Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fong Shu Chuen Care and Attention Home in Shau Kei Wan, with one of their family members also infected, Chuang said. This cluster now involved 55 people, 43 of whom were residents.

Five more construction workers at Lohas Park in Tseung Kwan O and two of their family members were confirmed to have come down with the virus, Chuang said. The group has 32 cases.

Among the new cases were two students, who studied at Pentecostal Holiness Church Wing Kwong College in Wong Tai Sin and Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club College in Sai Wan Ho, respectively, Chuang said. 

More than 80 people tested preliminarily positive on Friday, Chuang added.

A 53-year-old woman at the Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital tested preliminary positive after a nurse working in her ward was infected, Lau said. Meanwhile, a 76-year-old man, who was sent to Pok Oi Hospital for chronic illness on Thursday, also tested positive.

In a move to facilitate the testing for care home staffers, two temporary testing centers dedicated for those workers would be set up at Hennessy Road Playground in Wan Chai and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground, respectively.

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Care center workers had been required to undergo tests before Dec 14 under a mandatory order. They can get free testing at the two new venues with a registration form without advance booking

Also on Friday, Hong Kong Tourism Board announced that there would be no fireworks display over Victoria Harbour for this year’s New Year countdown.

Other New Year celebrations, the board said, would also be curtailed or held online, as a result of the social distancing rules in place to combat the fourth wave.