Officials Urge People Not To Flee Virus-hit Estate

The government has urged residents of a Sha Tin estate not to move out of their homes, despite a cluster of Covid-19 cases among their neighbours.

Some residents of Lek Yuen Estate have been seen packing their bags and leaving the area after six people there were diagnosed with the virus in recent days.

Work was continuing on Wednesday to disinfect buildings at the estate, where some residents were queuing up to return saliva samples for Covid-19 tests.

One man, surnamed Liu, told RTHK he was worried about catching the virus and was considering moving out temporarily, even though he doesn't live on the same floor as any of those known to be infected.

On an RTHK radio programme, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said there is no need for Lek Yuen residents to leave their flats.

She also dismissed calls for residents there to be put under medical surveillance over fears the cluster will spread further.

"We urge the residents ... if they feel unwell, visit a doctor or let people know. This would be just as good as medical surveillance," she said.

Chan also said that she had not been notified by education officials of any need to close schools in the area.

The cluster of cases at Lek Yuen emerged at the weekend, after a 34-year-old woman and her husband came down with Covid-19.

Since then, four other residents have been confirmed to have the virus.

Two colleagues of the woman and a paramedic who treated her have also been infected.