Specimen Bottles Distributed At Choi Wan Estate

Residents of a public housing block in Ngau Chi Wan said they are worried about the possible spread of coronavirus in their building as they heeded calls by health authorities to get tested for Covid-19, after several people there came down with the infection.

On Monday, staff in full protective gear distributed specimen bottles in Ming Lai House at Choi Wan Estate for Covid-19 tests.

Four residents who live in three different units at the block have been confirmed with the infection. Officials earlier said more tests would be carried out to find out if the virus was transmitted at the building because of structural factors.

For now, testing for residents there is voluntary.

A resident surnamed Yeung said she was worried that the virus might have spread through drainage pipes. She said she was wearing two face masks, hoping that would offer her extra protection.

“The pipes are very old and some of them are installed inside our washrooms,” she said.

Last week, authorities inspected a building in Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay, suspecting the drainage pipes there might have helped spread the virus.

Another Choi Wan resident, surnamed Fung, said she was unhappy that authorities didn’t tell them much about the coronavirus infections at her block, for example where exactly the patients live.

“No one told me about anything. I called the management office and asked about the confirmed cases. They said they didn’t know either,” she said.

“I will try my best to protect myself. I have no choice but to go out now only because I have to do grocery shopping.”