Speaking in a media session in the afternoon, Lam said citizens who are listed as close contacts of infected patients will be arranged to undergo home isolation in phases on the other hand.

Lam also added that the government has asked the Government Property Agency to search for a suitable place to set up the third Contact Tracing Office in order to strengthen the monitoring of sewage samples across the city.

She explained that the decision came after 28 out of 75 sewage samples were recently found to be positive.

The Hong Kong leader also said the government will strengthen the city's testing capacity, including reopening the Fire Eye Laboratory in Man On Shan Sports Centre and boosting the maximum capacity of daily Covid tests from 100,000 to 300,000.

She pointed out that the government has purchased over 10 million rapid antigen testing kits, and the shipment is expected to arrive as soon as next week. The city-wide voluntary Covid testing program will then be launched where each citizen can grab a kit and perform a test on themselves.

Lam warned that more premises will be restricted by a health ordinance following the "vaccine pass" measure that will come into effect on February 24.

The amendment will be tabled to the Executive Council next Tuesday, she said, adding the requirement of the "vaccine pass" will eventually be tightened from one dose of Covid-19 vaccine to the booster dose.