Virus Cases Continue To Soar, UK Returnees In Focus

The number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Hong Kong continued to grow steadily with 64 new cases added on Saturday, the majority of them linked to people who returned from overseas, especially Britain.

The total number of cases recorded in the city stands at 582 now.

Health officials confirmed just before midnight on Saturday that of all the new cases recorded, 47 were overseas returnees. Of these at least 21 had links to the United Kingdom.

Asked about the high rate of infections among the students who are coming back from the UK, Centre for Health Protection’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said it points to the high risk there.

Chuang rejected concerns that they may have caught the virus during the flight, saying most had taken a lot of protective measures during the journey.

She also said students were given jars to collect their samples and all of them were tested. This led to so many cases being identified as some of them did not have any signs of infection.

“It’s very difficult to catch all cases in the community that is why social distancing is important,” she said.

The official said that is why cooperation from the public is needed as the government can't regulate private places.

She also said another five cases have been linked to a cluster linking four bars in Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai. These include two bar staff, two customers and a family member of a bar staff.

The officials also said that two staff forced into quarantine after getting close to a policewoman who refused to wear mask have tested negative so far. But they still have to remain in quarantine.

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