Over 100 People Linked To Bar Chain Quarantined

Health authorities said on Thursday that more than 100 people linked to four bars in Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai are to be quarantined after 16 coronavirus cases were tied to the entertainment venues.

The Centre for Health Protection said they have classified all staff of these bars, as well as members of nine bands managed by the firm running the venues, as close contacts of people who have tested positive.

The total number of people to be quarantined is around 120, officials said.

The four bars are Insomnia, Dusk Till Dawn, All Night Long and Centre Stage. The 16 new cases linked to these places include bartenders, band members and customers who visited the venues.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said all of the staff and musicians were considered to be close contacts of those infected. Some even lived in the same accommodation, provided by the company.

“We’re still investigating their connections. But we know they came into contact regularly. The number of affected people is quite big. So instead of waiting any longer and asking each of them if they’re close contacts, we consider all of them as having a high risk of infection,” she said.

Chuang said 11 new Covid-19 cases are linked to this outbreak cluster, including four bandmates, three workers at the bars and four customers who visited the venues.

This comes as the centre reported 43 new cases in total, bringing the tally in Hong Kong to 453.

Of these new patients, 29 had travelled outside Hong Kong during their incubation period.