Hong Kong saw the biggest jump in new COVID-19 cases since Aug. 22 on Friday, with almost all of the 26 infections locally transmitted — including another batch from a Wan Chai ballroom dance club typically frequented by customers who are older and so more vulnerable to the virus.

There were also more than 40 preliminarily confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the 21 locally transmitted infections, the source of nine was unknown.

The 12 cases where the source was traced included nine that were related to the cluster at the Starlight Dance Club in Wan Chai. Seven of the preliminarily confirmed cases were also linked to people who had been to the club, including a staff member who fell ill on Wednesday.

That employee may not be the source of the cluster, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection.

The CHP will trace those who had been to the club between Nov. 12 and 14, including the tutors. It will also trace tutors and students who had been to the Dance Culture studio in Causeway Bay and Heavenly Dance Club in Central.

Three housewives living in Braemar Hill, Tsuen Wan and Lee Man Building in Mong Kok were among the cases with unknown sources who had been to a birthday party at the Palladium International Dance Club on Monday, where some danced. Other cases with unknown sources included a steel bar bender, a security guard, a taxi driver and a father and son living at Shan King Estate in Tuen Mun.

In response to the spike, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan announced mandatory testing for people with symptoms, staff members at elderly homes and taxi drivers. A subsidy will be given to COVID-19 patients. Classes at child care centers, kindergartens, and those for primary one to three students will be suspended until Dec. 6.

Chan urged the public to reduce social gatherings, especially those without the wearing of masks. The links to dance clubs were worrying, and the government won’t rule out tightening restrictions or closing the relevant venues, Chan said.

Chan said she would be discussing with the medical profession a proposal to give doctors power to make compulsory quarantine orders where they judge it necessary. Chan also called on hotels under the government-approved quarantine system to more strictly enforce the rules barring outside visitors — such as housing those under quarantine on separate floors.

Asked if the government would stop the plan for Hongkongers living in Guangdong and Macao returning to the city with going through quarantine, Chan said the mainland has controlled the pandemic well and the government was not worried.

As for the proposed travel bubble with Singapore, Chan said there is a mechanism set up so that it would be suspended if the situation worsens.

Hong Kong will not be able to stop all cases at the border as only 97% can be discovered, Chan said, citing expert opinion. The government will study how it can make tests more accurate and consider further tightening of border controls.

The annual book fair will be held next month after being postponed in July. Chan said large gatherings are not ideal but the government has to strike a balance for necessary activities. The risk at the event can be lowered by better air circulation and lowering time not wearing masks, she said.

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