Residents queue at a temporary testing center for COVID-19 at a cordoned-off area in Sham Shui Po district, Hong Kong on Feb 2, 2021. (KING CHEUNG / AP)

HONG KONG - A suspected COVID-19 case was discovered as the Hong Kong government wrapped up on Wednesday morning targeted testing operations in three cordoned-off areas in the city.

The "suspected case" was found in Jordan and was handed over to the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection. 

Nearly 2,200 residents were tested in the designated areas in Sham Shui Po, Jordan and Tin Shui Wai, according to government statements.

A total of more than 240 households, some 180 in Sham Shui Po, did not answer the door when government personnel knocked to check whether residents had complied with mandatory testing notices.

A total of more than 240 households, some 180 in Sham Shui Po, did not answer the door when government personnel knocked to check whether residents had complied with mandatory testing notices

Thirteen people in Sham Shui Po and seven in Jordan flouted testing notices and were issued new testing orders.

The government earlier warned that it may take legal action, including securing court warrants to break into households, if residents of “restricted areas” do not respond to government personnel checking their condition.

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Tuesday was the second consecutive day that the government implemented “ambush-style” testing operations that target multiple neighborhoods believed to be vulnerable to coronavirus transmissions at the same time. No patients have been found so far.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday said the effectiveness of such operations should not be measured by the number of cases found because the testing is a preventative measure against community outbreaks.

Hong Kong reported 25 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the lowest daily increase since Jan 6, bringing the city’s overall tally to 10,511.

The city’s social distancing measures, which would have expired on Thursday, were extended until Feb 17 to cover the Lunar New Year holidays. 

READ MORE: HK can give 36,000 COVID-19 shots a day in Feb rollout

They include a ban on in-house dining after 6 pm, a ban on public gatherings of more than two people and the closure of entertainment venues.