Dozens Isolated Over First Local Covid Case In Days

The Centre for Health Protection on Monday reported the first locally acquired Covid infection in three days.

The patient is a Baptist University student, aged 22. Officials are unable to trace the source of infection.

He last attended classes last Monday and developed a runny nose on Thursday.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said about 40 people he came into contact with on campus have been put under quarantine. She said some are his classmates who took part in group discussions with him.

“For the group discussion, it’s not a didactic lecture. They broke into small groups and had some discussions and presentations. So they moved around and there were more interactions. So we think the risk is higher than just didactic lectures where they stayed in their own seats,” she said.

Before he developed symptoms, he also coached children’s football.

Three other coaches and 12 children have been put under quarantine.

Commenting on the latest coronavirus situation, Chuang said although the infection figures have come down, there was still silent transmission of the virus in the community.

There were seven imported cases, involving five people arriving from the Philippines, one from Turkey and one from the United States.

About five others have tested preliminary positive for the virus. Most of them are imported cases.