University Student Among 18 New Covid Cases

A Baptist University student and taekwondo enthusiast was among the 18 new confirmed coronavirus cases recorded in Hong Kong on Wednesday, as authorities said four taxi drivers and a rehabilitation bus driver had also tested preliminary positive.

The Centre for Health Protection's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said of the 18 cases, 15 involved overseas travel, while the remaining three were local cases with no known source.

Chuang said one of the local cases was a 23-year-old Baptist University student who during the incubation went on staycations at the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong and the Royal Plaza Hotel in Mong Kok; and also went to taekwondo practice in Sham Shui Po, Cheung Sha Wan, Fortress Hill and Wong Chuk Hang.

The patient also went to a dental clinic in Mong Kok, had a facial in Tuen Mun, and ate at a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant in Sham Shui Po.

Chuang said authorities were still carrying out contact-tracing for the student, and that a number of close contacts – including the dentist – would be sent to quarantine.

The doctor said it was difficult to establish which activities were considered high-risk given that the student did so many things during the incubation period.

The other two local cases with no known source involved a 76-year-old man in Kwai Shing, and a 44-year-old male project manager at the Grandtech Centre in Shek Mun.

Also present at Wednesday's Covid-19 briefing was Director of Health Dr Constance Chan, who urged people to stay vigilant given that the day's cases revealed there were still invisible transmissions in the community.

The Department for Health recently finished a coronavirus testing scheme for taxi drivers, but Chan said given that four cab drivers had tested preliminary positive or had "indeterminate" results, testing will be extended for this group.