Officials check whether a person has undergone compulsory testing after an overnight testing operation at Tsui Wo House, Tai Wo Estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Feb 2, 2021 night. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

Hong Kong residents should brace for a surge in COVID-19 cases following the Spring Festival, a top expert warned on Thursday, when the city registered 142 new cases. 

Of the new confirmed cases, 121 were locally transmitted and the rest imported. The new cases took the city’s tally to 14,584 infections, with 213 related deaths. 

Government advisers sounded alarm over the high number of untraceable infections, with 31 such cases recorded on Thursday. On Wednesday, the number was 30. 

READ MORE: HK sees 116 new COVID-19 cases, situation 'getting worse'

Another 160 preliminary-positive cases coupled with the high number untraceable cases are reasons people should be extra cautious, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said during a press briefing. 

For the untraceable cases, we have observed an increasing trend. This is not a good sign.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, Head, Communicable disease, Centre for Health Protection 

Since there are many incidents of family reunions during the Lunar New Year festival, there can be more transmissions as the Omicron variant is sweeping the city, she said, adding that it could pose a huge burden on Hong Kong’s health care system. 

Dr Chuang urged people to avoid going out as much as possible.

Asked whether social distancing measures need to be further tightened, she said: “For the untraceable cases, we have observed an increasing trend. This is not a good sign. It signifies there’s quite severe community transmission at the moment." 

“I understand the government is closely monitoring the situation and will announce further measures as appropriate,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen appealed to the residents to receive COVID-19 vaccination as early as possible to protect themselves from COVID-19. 

Visiting the community vaccination center (CVC) at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre on Thursday, he said 12 CVCs are open in advance to provide vaccination services to the public on the third day of the Lunar New Year and more vaccination venues will resume operation on Friday. 

READ MORE: HK official: Govt aims to boost elderly vaccination rate

"Recently, there are cases that tested positive for COVID-19 with an unknown source of infection in some districts. Regardless of the districts people reside in, vaccination is the best way for them to protect themselves. Early vaccination means early protection.” 

This Feb 3, 2021 photo shows Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen chatting with a resident who has just received vaccination, during a visit to a community vaccination center at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre.  (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)

Urging the public to make vaccination appointments for the elderly in their families, he said elderly persons aged 60 or above are accorded the same-day ticket service at CVCs, except for the CVCs located at private hospitals, so that they can receive vaccination on the day they collect the tickets.

Talking on a radio program the same day, respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu said the rise in unlinked cases evidently shows that current pandemic restrictions are not enough to control the outbreak. 

“If our measures really worked, we should have seen a turn in our COVID situation within a week. We can only say our measures are effective if there is a downward trend in our overall infections and untraceable cases.” 

 Stressing on the need to “work harder”, he said: “We have no hope of controlling it, if there is no downward trend. It will only get worse.”