People wearing face masks walk on the Avenue of Stars in south China's Hong Kong, Dec. 17, 2020. Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 96 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, taking its total tally to 7,899. (Xinhua/Li Gang)HONG KONG, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 96 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, taking its total tally to 7,899.
The new confirmed cases included 90 local infections, with 26 cases of unknown origin, according to a CHP press briefing. There were also over 70 preliminary cases.
Chui Tak-yi, Under Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said at the press briefing that 584 new local cases were reported in Hong Kong from Dec. 10 to 16, with 37 percent of them untraceable, up from 30 percent in the previous week.
As the weather is getting cold and viruses can live longer under low temperature, the situation could be serious if a person who contracted seasonal influenza and COVID-19 at the same time, Chui said, urging high-risk groups including the elderly to get their flu vaccine.
According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 1,111 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals and the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and 58 of them are in critical condition.
The COVID-19 deaths in Hong Kong have increased to 124. Enditem