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HONG KONG, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported eight additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the total confirmed cases to 5,046.
The newly-reported cases include five imported cases and the remaining three epidemiologically linked with local cases.
According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 179 patients are still hospitalized, including 12 in critical condition.
The number of deaths related to COVID-19 stands at 103.
Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam Tuesday announced that the existing social distancing measures due to expire on Thursday, including mandatory mask-wearing in public places and group gatherings of no more than four persons, will be extended for another seven days.
Lam added that although the epidemic situation has been easing, there are still cases with unknown source of infection over the past week and the public should stay vigilant.
Most of the premises including restaurants and places of public entertainment have been reopened on meeting the epidemic prevention requirements. Hong Kong's iconic theme park Ocean Park resumed operation last week and Hong Kong Disneyland will reopen on Friday.
