13 Out Of 7,000 Test Positive In Jordan Lockdown

Officials says 13 of the more than 7,000 people who've been tested for Covid-19 in the locked-down area of Jordan since Saturday were preliminary positive.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection told a press conference on Sunday that four of the cases were from one family and two from another family, with the rest scattered around the area.

She said the positive rate from the restricted area is much higher than the voluntary community testing programme conducted in last September.

"The positive rate is about 0.17 percent," Chuang said, giving a figure of 12 cases in the area. Health Secretary Sophia Chan confirmed shortly afterwards that another case had been found.

"We have put all close contacts under quarantine," Chuang said. "Also some of cases, if not all of them, are staying in subdivided flats.

"We will put all those who share subdivided flats, even those who are not in the same household, under quarantine as well so as to minimise the risk of transmission."

In September, authorities tested some 1.78 million samples from those who joined the the territory-wide programme and identified 32 new cases. The positive rate was about 0.002 percent.

But Chuang noted the situation was different as it was towards the end of third wave of infections in September.

Officials said Hong Kong confirmed 76 coronavirus cases on Sunday, 27 of which have no clear source of infection. There are also four imported cases, all involving domestic helpers arriving from Indonesia.

Among the local cases, 23 were from the Yau Tsim Mong district. There are also six cases from Sham Shui Po.

Kwong Wah Hospital reported the death of 72-year-old coronavirus patient. The man, who had chronic illnesses, was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve. It takes the total number of deaths to 169.

Separately, health authorities ordered residents in three buildings to get tested for coronavirus. They are Ning On Mansion in Taikoo Shing, Chi Tat House in Kwun Tong and a building on 84 Nam Cheong Street.

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