Health authorities have warned that a rise in Covid cases shows no sign of abating, with the daily figure hitting its highest level since early April.

Thursday brought 3,674 new infections, 257 of them imported. There have also been five more deaths involving Covid patients.

Officials announced that from now on, anyone who tests positive while trying to cross the border into the mainland will go straight to a local quarantine facility.

This followed local media reports of people testing positive at Shenzhen Bay Port being told to leave the area on their own.

"To improve and to strengthen the management of these cases, we'll require all departing passengers to be sent to community isolation facilities for those who have a positive quick PCR," said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.

Separately, Director of Health Ronald Lam is currently undergoing quarantine, after his deputy, Teresa Li, tested positive for Covid-19.

The Department of Health said Lam has tested negative for the virus.