Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor holds a press conference at the Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, Jan 19, 2021. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY )

HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said her government is focusing on targeted testing and will extend social distancing measures due to expire this week as the city remains on heightened alert after the number of COVID-19 infections climbed back into triple digits.

Lam said the government would reveal details later in the day.

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Health authorities are in the process of identifying a “core area” in the coronavirus-stricken Yau Ma Tei where all residents would be mandatorily tested even before the first case is reported in that locality, said Chief Executive Carrie Lam

She said health authorities are in the process of identifying a “core area” in the coronavirus-stricken Yau Ma Tei where all residents would be mandatorily tested even before the first case is reported in that locality.

Speaking to reporters ahead of an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Lam stressed the importance of testing in cutting off transmission chains and attributed the city’s high caseload a day before to targeted testing in Yau Ma Tei which helped uncover infections. 

Hong Kong reported 107 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, the first triple-digit daily increase in a month, as well as more than 50 preliminarily positive cases.

Lam said residents will be tested if any building's sewage samples test positive for the virus for three days in a row, Lam said.

Taregted testing currently applied to Yau Ma Tei buildings will be soon extended to buildings in certain pockets of Sham Shui Po district, Lam said. In Yau Ma Tei, the government currently requires all residents of a building to be compulsorily tested even if a single patient is found on the premises.

Hong Kong leader's also said that while the city’s social distancing measures will be extended, adjustments will be made in response to the needs of affected businesses. Most of the curbs are set to expire on Thursday. 

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The city’s total of confirmed cases stood at 9,664, with 163 related fatalities as of Monday.