HK Records Another 90 Coronavirus Infections

Health authorities on Thursday reported 90 new coronavirus cases in the territory, saying they were unable to trace the source of infection for around a third of them.

Eleven of the patients brought the virus into Hong Kong with them from overseas, while 21 are linked to an outbreak involving dance gatherings across the city.

Officials said an outbreak at a construction site in Tseung Kwan O has seen five more cases, while two more people at a care home for disabled people in Shau Kei Wan have come down with the disease.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the high proportion of unlinked infections shows there is a lot of silent transmission in the community.

“There are silent carriers in the community and they might have infected others through other means. For example, they go to the same restaurants or same markets. It’s very difficult for the general public to identify themselves and come forward for testing,” she said.

A family member of a cross-boundary truck driver who came down with the disease earlier has also now been infected. The patient works at a Japanese restaurant in Mong Kok.

Authorities also announced the death of another Covid patient.

An 82-year-old woman died on Thursday at Queen Elizabeth hospital, two days after she was admitted to its intensive care unit with fever and pneumonia. She was later confirmed with the coronavirus. This brings the total number of Covid-related deaths in Hong Kong to 111.

Meanwhile, an elderly patient who was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital more than two weeks ago has tested preliminary positive for the virus.

The 82-year-old woman tested negative for the virus when she was admitted, but tested positive before she was discharged. Officials are investigating how she caught the virus.

The woman was staying at an elderly care home in Kwai Shing before she was admitted to hospital. More than 200 residents and staff at the home will now be tested for Covid-19.