Hong Kong's coronavirus battle has intensified as authorities report new cases have multiplied by 60 times so far this month and media says that testing will become compulsory for everyone in the global financial hub from March, reports Reuters.

Health authorities have reported a record 6,116 confirmed cases, up from 4,285 the previous day, with a further 6,300 preliminary positive cases. That takes the total since January to more than 16,600. They reported 24 new deaths.

Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the government planned to test up to one million people each day from March and those who failed to comply would be fined HK$10,000 ($1,282).