Another 66 Local Coronavirus Cases Recorded In HK

Hong Kong has recorded another 66 locally contracted coronavirus cases – with over two dozen of them listed as from "unknown source" – while health officials appealed to the public to seek tests at private clinics instead of approaching public hospitals which are now feeling the strain of the pandemic.

Among the new local cases, 39 were linked to previous cases, with a majority of them being family members of previously reported victims.

Indicating the danger the new surge is posing to the vulnerable sections of society, health officials said among the new cases was a private doctor who was infected after treating a patient who was later confirmed to have Covid-19.

The doctor, who works at a clinic in Causeway Bay, also went to an elderly care home in North Point to treat residents there, raising fears they may be infected too. Some residents are now being tested.

Meanwhile, a patient at the Eastern Hospital has tested positive, leading to other patients in the ward having to undergo screening for the virus.

New cases also continued to emerge from clusters which have been identified already, as three more members from a family came down with Covid-19 after a meal at Kwai Fong. The total cases in the family, which reportedly live at Lai King disciplined services quarters, has now gone up to nine.

Regarding suggestions by microbiology expert Professor Yuen Kwok-yung that Hong Kong may have to go into a virtual lockdown if the surge continues, the Centre for Health Protection’s Chuang Shuk-kwan said as new distancing measures were announced only on Sunday, they still need time to monitor the trend.

But she said if the current trend does not come down, tighter measures may be needed.

Chuang also said a drop in Monday’s number, from the record 108 cases on the previous day, cannot be regarded as part of a downward trend.

The total number of new cases on Monday is 73, including seven people who arrived in Hong Kong from elsewhere. This brings the number of cases reported in the city so far to 1,958.

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