Tsuen Wan Block Partially Evacuated Over Covid

Health authorities have ordered the partial evacuation of residents of a housing block in Tsuen Wan after a dozen coronavirus cases were reported there.

People who live in units 04 and 05 on or above the 18th floor of Block R of Luk Yeung Sun Chuen will be sent to quarantine.

After a site inspection on Monday, University of Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said he believed there had been vertical transmission of Covid-19 at the building, and the virus was likely spread through the light well due to the so-called "chimney effect".

He said air containing the virus might be trapped inside for a period of time before spreading to the flats and common areas of the block.

Professor Yuen said residents should shut their windows near the light well to play safe.

"And when you turn on the ventilation fan, you should open your windows facing the other direction. That would allow air from that 'clean' direction into the flat, not the other way around," he told reporters.

Yuen also said residents of Block D of Luk Yeung Sun Chuen are subject to mandatory Covid testing after three patients there were related to the cases in Block R.

When asked why a complete evacuation was not ordered for Block R, Yuen said the decision was made after a risk assessment and that officials don't usually send all residents of a building into quarantine.