A couple rest at a waterfront against Victoria Habour in Hong Kong, Jan 2, 2021. (VINCENT YU/AP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 45 new COVID-19 infections on Friday, including 42 locally transmitted ones, of which 22 were untraceable.

The latest additions brought the infection tally in the financial hub to 9,152.

READ MORE: HK to keep schools closed, curbs in place as fresh tally 53

Both the total daily count and the number of local infections were the second-highest this week.

Residents at three more buildings will be subject to mandatory testing, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch

"We are seeing an increasing number of cases, especially unlinked cases in the community. Although this is only one day,… this indicates there maybe still some silent transmissions in the community,” said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, at a press briefing.

Most of the newly identified patients who had COVID-19 of unknown origin said they had not attended big gatherings during the Christmas and New Year holidays, Chuang said. “Maybe there are some other cases we do not know in the community.”

Among the untraced cases is a nurse at Hong Kong Baptist Hospital. Chuang said she has gone to work after developing symptoms on Sunday, Chuang said.

More than 40 people tested preliminarily positive for the coronavirus, Chuang added.

Residents at three more buildings will be subject to mandatory testing, according to Chuang. The premises are Yan Ching House at Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City, Mei Sau House at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai and a building on 28 Reclamation Street in Yau Ma Tei.

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Two more patients died on Friday, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related death in the city to 155.

The Hong Kong government announced on Friday to cancel the Lunar New Year fairs at 15 locations and the Che Kung Festival Fair in Sha Tin scheduled to be held in February this year

An 86-year-old woman, who had chronic diseases and was admitted to the hospital due to fever and pneumonia on Dec 28, succumbed to the disease in the early hours of Friday, according to a statement issued by the Hospital Authority. Meanwhile, an 89-year-old man, who was hospitalized on Dec 15 due to fever, cough and shortness of breath, died on Friday afternoon. 

The three imported cases reported on Friday were from Japan, Ireland and Indonesia, respectively.

In light of the latest COVID-19 situation, the Hong Kong government announced on Friday to cancel the Lunar New Year fairs at 15 locations and the Che Kung Festival Fair in Sha Tin scheduled to be held in February this year.

"The current epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains severe and the risk of rebound of the epidemic situation has not subsided. There are also silent transmission chains in the community and the risk of cluster outbreaks," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said in a statement.

It said it will inform the successful stall bidders of the decision and arrange a full refund of the stall license fee to them in accordance with the licence agreement as soon as possible.