Rise In New Infections In HK 'quite Scary': Official

A senior Hong Kong health official said on Saturday that the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong is "quite scary", as the city added another 17 confirmed cases, bringing the total tally to 273 – almost double the figure from a week ago.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said as well as the new confirmed infections, another 20 people have tested positive for the virus in initial tests.

As in previous days, most of the new patients had recently returned from overseas. But Chuang said there are also some clusters of local cases.

She said the number of people confirmed to have the virus after joining a wedding banquet at a hotel in Discovery Bay last Saturday has doubled to six.

One of these patients had also gone for drinks with two other friends in Lan Kwai Fong recently, and the friends have also now tested positive for the virus.

The popular bar area of Lan Kwai Fong had already been linked to several virus cases.

Officials said a 20-month-old child of one of those who had been at the banquet in Discovery Bay has also been confirmed to have the coronavirus. The toddler was not at the banquet.

Using the word "scary" to describe the number of people coming down with the virus, Chuang urged people returning from overseas to strictly comply with compulsory quarantine orders.

"Most of the cases have a travel history, but we are seeing some clusters without travel history. They have some social activities or some risky activities, she said.

"Because we are using the compulsory quarantine for the returnees to Hong Kong, if everybody stays at home or in hotels and they observe the rules, then they will be better. If they go out and socialise and if some of them become cases, there will be a risk of major outbreaks in Hong Kong."