(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 26 additional COVID-19 cases and following up on more than 40 preliminary positive ones.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said among the new cases, five are imported, 12 have links with local cases and nine have an unknown source of infection.

One of the patients without a known source of infection is a 42-year-old woman who arrived from Japan. She stayed in the Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East in Tseung Kwan O during her visit.

Dr Chuang explained: “She came to Hong Kong in early September to visit relatives. So it is highly unlikely that she acquired the disease overseas.

“She most likely acquired the disease from the local community. She has a few close contacts involving her relatives and some friends. We may have to put them under quarantine.”

Of the 12 cases with links to other cases, nine are related to the Starlight Dance Club cluster, while at least seven people among the preliminary positive cases had also been to the club.

Some of its dance instructors had also taught at two other studios.

Dr Chuang said: “At least three dance studios are involved (in the dance club cluster), according to our preliminary information.

“The first one is Starlight Dance Club, the second one is Heavenly Dance Studio and the third one is Dance Culture.

“We are still investigating the preliminary positive cases. It is possible that more studios may be involved because the dance teachers usually do not only teach in one studio.”

The imported cases arrived from India, Pakistan, Romania and the UK.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.