Residents line up to receive COVID-19 testings at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, Jan 13, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported nine new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the tally to 13,025.

It is the first time the city logged fewer than 10 positive COVID-19 cases since Dec 29.

Eight new cases involved both the N501Y and T478K mutant strains, indicating that they might be Omicron infections, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing on Friday afternoon.

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Despite a declining number of new COVID-19 cases, health officials said there could still be silent transmission chains in the community and called on residents to remain vigilant

One of the confirmed cases involved a construction worker who lives in Yat Wan House, Tin Yat Estate, Tin Shui Wai and works in Kai Tak. His co-workers during the incubation period were considered as close contacts and will be sent to the quarantine center, Chuang said.

One new positive case involved a 21-year-old nurse who works at JP Partners Medical in Tuen Mun. She was at the clinic at Gold Coast Piazza on Jan 3 when an infected 45-year-old woman and her 11-year-old son sought medical attention there. 

Chuang also said the city reported fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases, including a 51-year-old woman who works at the government's Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre. She was considered a close contact of a co-worker, also 51, who earlier tested positive for the coronavirus. They have had lunch together during work, Chuang said.

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Despite a declining number of new COVID-19 cases, health officials said there could still be silent transmission chains in the community and called on residents to remain vigilant. 

It is too early to say that the epidemic has been contained, said CHP controller Edwin Tsui Lok-kin at the same briefing, adding that the government will continue monitoring the situation.

He said Hong Kong has reported 327 Omicron infections as of Jan 13, 32 of which were local while the remaining were imported.