(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today announced that the social distancing measures will be extended until February 17, citing the risk of a massive COVID-19 outbreak in the community.

Explaining the decision during a media session this afternoon, Mrs Lam said: “We are expecting that at any time we could have an exponential increase in (the number of COVID-19) cases and this could give rise to a massive community outbreak.

“Up till now we still have more than 30 unlinked cases. If each unlinked case represents a silent transmission chain, then it is very risky.

“And on top of that, our sewage surveillance also does not give us that level of comfort because we are still seeing positive signals.”

Meanwhile, schools across the city will continue to suspend face-to-face classes until February 21.

Mrs Lam also announced that arrivals to Hong Kong will face a shorter hotel quarantine period.

“The shortening of the hotel quarantine period from 21 days to 14 days plus seven days' self-monitoring is purely based on science because Omicron's incubation period is relatively short.

“So we have, based on this science, already shortened the quarantine period for close contacts of confirmed cases at Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre and other quarantine centres from 21 days to 14 days about a week ago.

“There is no logic or consistency if we still impose the 21 days on arrivals - they are not even close contacts (of confirmed cases) - they are arrivals from a country which may have more transmissions and so on.”

Meanwhile, the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US will be extended for 14 days to February 18.