No Need To Worry About Bar Cluster: Epidemiologist

A University of Hong Kong epidemiologist says people should not worry about clusters of Covid infections involving two bars in Central and there is no need for the authorities to shut down the city's nightlife.

Benjamin Cowling's comments came after health officials said on Monday that a total of 45 infections have been linked to the Iron Fairies and Zentral bars.

Speaking to RTHK on Tuesday, he said clusters of infections are inevitable because Covid is already in the community.

Cowling said that while health authorities might consider measures to limit the occurrence of clusters, there is no need to do so because of the high level of immunity in Hong Kong.

“The level of immunity we have now – from infections in the fifth wave particularly and from vaccinations including third doses and fourth doses now – we have such a high level of immunity that I really don’t think there’s as much justification any more for the public health measures.”

The professor also said he did not think it would be necessary for the authorities to close bars, adding that there is not a public health need to stop transmission in one particular setting or type of premises.

“If bars were to close now, I’m sure that in a week’s time we’d be talking about a cluster somewhere else – maybe in a school, maybe a cluster in a restaurant, maybe a cluster in a workplace – and then what’s next? You can’t just continually keep closing venues because there was a cluster in one such venue in one part of Hong Kong," he said.

"We know that clusters are going to occur now and into the future, and I think we have to think carefully about the rationale for public health measures.”