Infection Scare At Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan Wet Markets

Two wet markets – in Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan – closed early on Tuesday after health officials said Covid-19 infections have been linked to fish stalls at both places.

This comes as the Centre for Health Protection confirmed that among the 80 newly-confirmed cases on Tuesday, two were fish vendors in Hung Hom Market, and one was a fish vendor at To Kwa Wan Market.

The markets will stay closed until Friday for disinfection and investigation.

The CHP's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said the cases were found through the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's surveillance programme.

Altogether there have been ten cases linked to Hung Hom market, with five of them at four different fish stalls. In To Kwa Wan, two cases are linked to fishmongers there.

Chuang said because the fish stalls in question are quite close together, it's possible the virus spread via human-to-human transmission, but there were concerns that environmental factors could be at play.

"We also remember that in the Wuhan wet market and also in the Beijing wet market they have similar findings in the seafood markets, so we are worried whether similar environments occurred in Hong Kong," said Chuang.

Chuang said the markets would be shut from 5pm on Tuesday, and Hong Kong University microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung will take a look at infection control at the markets and the ventilation system, and collect samples for tests.

The CHP said among the 80 new Covid-19 infections added on Tuesday, five were imported cases. Of the local cases, 43 are linked to previously-confirmed cases, and 32 have no known source of infection.

At least two new cases are linked to the Star Global cluster, and one is linked to the King Fok Nursing Home in Sham Shui Po.

The CHP also said that around 50 people have tested preliminary positive.

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