CHP Again Issues Warning As Total Cases Cross 400

Health officials on Wednesday reported several new local transmissions of the coronavirus, with a pilot, a police officer and a bartender among those infected, as the public were warned to expect more community outbreaks if they let their guard down at this stage of the pandemic.

Detailing how the SAR's tally of virus cases had risen by 24 to 410 in total, the Centre for Health Protection said 19 of the new patients had been outside Hong Kong during their incubation period. Most of them had recently returned from Europe, including six students.

Some of the local cases were once again linked to Lan Kwai Fong.

A musician who recently played at venues in the bar area has been confirmed to have the virus – just like five bandmates had on Tuesday.

A bartender at one of the venues has also come down with the illness.

Meanwhile, officials said a Cathay Pacific pilot who is infected hasn't flown out of Hong Kong in about a month. However, he had visited the bar Insomnia – where that same band had performed.

A 36-year-old man has caught the virus, but officials said they don't know how yet, while a 22-year-old police officer, who hasn't been abroad recently, has also tested positive.

The centre's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said the new local outbreaks show that Hong Kong people must not become complacent.

"We have observed some sporadic cases and outbreaks without links to imported cases. There is a risk of further community transmission if we get relaxed, and go out and disregard social distances measures," Chuang said.

Around 270 of the city's Covid-19 patients are still being treated in public hospitals, with four of them in a critical condition.

Hong Kong has seen four fatalities linked to the coronavirus so far, with additional deaths involving SAR residents in Hubei province and from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.