Virus Surge Unabated, Residents Urged To Stay Home

The surging coronavirus pandemic claimed one more victim in Hong Kong on Friday as health officials reported 58 new cases, many of them people who have frequent contact with the public, indicating a further widening of the current outbreak.

Health officials again urged city residents to stay home as much as possible – especially the elderly – saying they expect more outbreaks in the coming days.

“The public should stay at home as much as possible and not take part in unnecessary activities," said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection.

"The patients [reported] recently… they not only go to work, they have gatherings, they play mahjong, they sing karaoke, they have frequent activities. It’s complicated to trace their source of infection as well as close contacts to put them under quarantine."

"People should encourage elderly members of their family to stay at home. If you live with elderly people, you should stay at home as much as possible, too, and pay attention to the health condition of the elderly,” she said.

The latest fatality – the 11th in the city – was a 71-year-old female who had a chronic illness and was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital on Thursday night after her heart stopped.

She was resuscitated and moved to ICU, and she tested positive for coronavirus in preliminary screening. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and died on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile more cases continue to emerge from the Tsz wan Shan area. The latest patients include two vegetable sellers, a security guard, and two people who wash dishes at restaurants in the area, as well as five customers who’ve been to different restaurants there.

Asked if stricter rules should be put in place to limit people’s movement in Tsz Wan Shan, Dr Chuang said the government is closely monitoring the situation.

“I understand the stakeholders are closing down the Tsz Wan Shan Centre and the market for thorough disinfection. I think that would help to stop the outbreak,” she said.

She said many new infections also involve workers who have frequent contact with the public, including two salespersons who work in Diamond Hill and the Landmark in Central respectively, a receptionist at massage parlour in Tsim Sha Tsui, as well as a bus driver and his wife.

A customer service officer in Yuen Long also caught the virus. One of his colleagues is a previously confirmed case.

Also among the new case is a 92-year-old resident at a Jockey Club-run elderly care home in Wong Chuk Hang where three cases have been identified, including staff working on different floors. More tests are being done there.

The total number of Covid cases reported in Hong Kong now stands at 1,713 with eight of the new cases being imported ones.

The imported cases came from Ethiopia, India, the Philippines and Pakistan.