Covid Expert Calls For Dining Restrictions To Stay

Chinese University infectious disease specialist Professor David Hui said the government should not relax dining restrictions for the time being, saying an unknown Covid-19 infection that was reported on Sunday shows that there's still silent transmission within the community.

The Centre for Health Protection said the latest case involves a construction worker at a Kai Tai site. At least one of his colleagues has tested preliminary positive, while a third worker also reported feeling unwell.

Sources also said on Monday that there are around 10 new Covid-19 cases.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, Hui said the construction worker's colleagues could have caught the virus in the staff common room, just like the cluster at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal last month in which dozens of workers had been infected.

While the government adviser said he doesn’t believe there will be a massive outbreak linked to the latest case, it was still important for the government to maintain its current dining restrictions to prevent silent carriers from spreading the virus. However, he said officials could consider allowing religious gatherings to take place, as long as there's a cap on the number of participants and a requirement for attendees to keep their masks on.

Meanwhile, Hui said if people continue to practice strict personal hygiene and wear masks, that should essentially ward off a spike in flu cases during the upcoming flu season this winter. However, he said it is still advisable for high-risk groups to get their flu jabs to play safe.

Another infectious disease expert, Leung Chi-chiu from the Medical Association, echoed Hui’s views, saying people should also consider taking pneumococcal vaccination to avoid pneumonia-related complications

He also urged people to stay on the alert, saying symptoms of Covid-19 and seasonal flu could be quite similar and any delay or error in diagnosis could impede the city’s anti-epidemic measures.