HK Reports First Local Covid-19 Cases In Three Weeks

Hong Kong reported two new local Covid-19 cases on Sunday, snapping a 21-day streak without a local infection.

The latest patients are a 59-year-old restaurant staff and a 41-year-old nurse who works in a private clinic.

The 59-year-old man works part-time at two eateries. One of them is a noodle and congee shop in Ping Shek Estate in Choi Hung. He lives in a building next to the eatery, which has now been closed. He works there in the small hours, preparing food.

He also works during the day at a Tuen Mun canteen catered mainly to immigration and customs staff, as well as construction workers.

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, the head of the Centre for Health Protection's Communicable Disease Branch, said the patient's colleagues and neighbours will undergo tests as a precaution.

The man began to show symptoms on Tuesday and fell sick while travelling on the West Rail on Saturday. He was taken to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan, before he was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital.

He's now in a serious condition. The Centre for Health Protection said the source of infection is unknown.

Department of Health staff were in Ping Shek Estate on Sunday, carrying out disinfection work.

The MTR Corporation, for its part, says it has carried out cleaning and disinfection work at Tsuen Wan West Station, where the patient sought help, as well as trains travelling to and from the station at the time.

Two station officers who offered assistance to the man and a contractor cleaning staff are to be tested for coronavirus.

The other new local Covid-19 patient works at the clinic on Castle Peak Road in Cheung Sha Wan. She's responsible for dispensing drugs and is not in direct contact with patients.

She began showing symptoms on Thursday and was later taken to Princess Margaret Hospital.

Health officials said she had tea on June 24 with someone who later tested positive for Covid-19.

Officials expressed concern about other medical staff at the clinic. A doctor developed a fever but has so far tested negative for coronavirus.

The two local cases are among 10 new infections reported on Sunday. The others are imported cases from Pakistan, India and Indonesia.

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