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HONG KONG, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) on Wednesday reported three newly confirmed COVID-19 cases including two local infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 1,050.

Hong Kong had reported zero local infection for 23 consecutive days as of Tuesday, before the fresh two local cases were reported on Wednesday, Under Secretary for Food and Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Chui Tak-yi said at a press briefing.

Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan told the press briefing that the two locally confirmed cases involved a woman aged 66 and her five-year-old grand-daughter. Some of their family members showing symptoms have been sent to hospitals, and other close contacts without symptoms have been sent to quarantine centers, Chuang said.

The imported case involved a 34-year-old man who returned from Pakistan on May 9. Chuang said the patient tested negative at Hong Kong International Airport upon his arrival but was diagnosed with the disease at a quarantine center on Wednesday.

Chui said the HKSAR government will take balanced epidemic-prevention measures to safeguard public health and economic development and to keep social operations.

Chui also urged members of the public to stay alert and maintain personal hygiene.

As of Wednesday, a total of 1,008 confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospitals upon recovery, while 36 patients are still hospitalized, including one in critical condition and three in serious condition. Enditem