People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, cross a street in Hong Kong, Dec 12, 2020. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 63 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the lowest daily count since Nov 21, bringing the city’s total of confirmed infections to 8,300.

The new infections included 53 locally transmitted cases, 13 of which were untraceable, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing. 

The number of untraceable cases was among the lowest since the the city’s fourth wave of infections began in mid-November

The number of untraceable cases was among the lowest since the the city’s fourth wave of infections began in mid-November.

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An 86-year-old man, who had chronic diseases and was hospitalized on Nov 27, died in early hours of Tuesday, becoming the city’s 132th coronavirus-related fatality, according to a Hospital Authority statement.

There were also more than 30 people who tested preliminarily positive on Tuesday, according to Chuang, who said she was cautiously optimistic about a downward trend, hoping that there will not be a rebound.

New cases continued to be detected in the city’s residential buildings. Kwun Tong Garden Estate Lotus Towers had seven cases while Yau Mei Court Yun Mei House in Yau Tong had four infections, Chuang said.

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Health authorities will distribute specimen collection bottles to residents of these two buildings, she added. 

Chuang said two preliminarily positive patients were also recorded at Ping Tin Estate Ping Shing in Lam Tin. 

At least four confirmed cases had been detected here previously. Residents will be subject to mandatory testing after the two new cases are confirmed.