Fears Grow Over Covid Outbreak At Container Terminal

Health authorities acknowledged on Thursday that they have failed so far to pinpoint the source of infection in a Covid-19 outbreak at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals that has infected at least 18 workers.

Centre for Health Protection (CHP) officials said 3,000 bottles have been handed out to staff there for testing.

The CHP's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan confirmed that of the 69 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong on Thursday, one was a worker at the container terminal, bringing the total number of cases in that cluster to 18.

Chuang said that the container terminal area is quite large and the patients within the cluster are dispersed, and health authorities still could not come up with the exact source of infection.

She said that while most staff work in different parts of the terminal, they share a changing room and a lounge area, and the virus could have spread as they removed their masks when using these facilities.

Chuang urged container terminal workers not to take off their masks and maintain social distancing as much as possible.

The cluster is one of the largest in the third wave of coronavirus infections in Hong Kong.

Chuang also sought to allay concerns after it was reported that Shenzhen authorities said they have detected the new coronavirus on frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil.

Chuang pointed out that frozen foods are safe to eat as long as they are cooked thoroughly, saying high temperatures can kill viruses. She also reminded people to avoid touching their eyes, face and mouth when handling frozen products.

Other confirmed cases on Thursday included a family member of the landlord of a boarding house in Cheung Hing Mansion, Mong Kok, where an infected helper had stayed.

"We are still trying to ask the landlord for details of the other domestic helpers, but according to the landlord, they have not registered their details or maybe the landlord was denying they stayed there," Chuang said.