Hong Kong, Dec 26 (IANS): Visitors who have been to places outside China in the past three weeks will be put in compulsory quarantine at designated hotels for 21 days upon arrival in Hong Kong, instead of 14 days as previously required.

In a statement on Friday, the city government said that those who have stayed in South Africa for more than two hours within 21 days will be banned from boarding flights to Hong Kong, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government also said those who arrived in Hong Kong during December 2-24 and have stayed in places outside China will have to take a test on Day 19 or 20 after arrival and remain in quarantine before test result comes out.

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported 57 new confirmed cases on Friday, taking its total tally to 8,481.

The new cases included 55 local infections, with 25 cases of unknown origin, according to a CHP press briefing.

There were also about 50 preliminary cases.

Currently, 940 Covid-19 patients are being treated in public hospitals and the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and 54 patients are in critical condition.

The latest CHP data showed the total number of Covid-19 deaths rose by one to 136 in Hong Kong.