A woman checks a menu outside a restaurant in Langham place, in Hong Kong, China, on January 2, 2022. Photo: VCG

According to the Center for Health Protection of Department of Health of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong reported 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 40 cases that tested preliminarily positive on Sunday. Analysts said it "will make sense" if the reopening plan between Hong Kong and the mainland is further delayed due to the resurgence in cases.

Among the 29 confirmed cases, one is related to Moon Palace restaurant, where five confirmed cases and one case tested preliminarily positive have been detected so far. 

There were 207 customers and 22 staffers at the restaurant when the first COVID-19 case was found there. The Center for Health Care has contacted 201 customers, calling the remaining six to take nucleic acid tests as soon as possible.

Most of the other 28 confirmed cases are people arriving in Hong Kong by plane and some flights to Hong Kong may be suspended since there were planes involving more than three cases, according to the Center for Health Protection.

On whether the latest resurgence of COVID-19 in Hong Kong would delay the reopening plan between Hong Kong and the mainland, Tam Yiu-chung, a Hong Kong-based member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, told the Global Times on Monday that "it will make sense" if the plan is further delayed. 

The epidemic situation in Hong Kong and mainland is changing, Tam said, noting that an Omicron outbreak would also delay the plan.

Hong Kong has reported a total of 177 confirmed COVID-19 cases from December 19 2021 to Sunday.