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| The Filipina DH tested positive, despite submitting a negative result for Covid-19 prior to boarding her flight from Manila (File photo) |
Another 121 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Hong Kong today, Jul 31, the 10th straight day
that the number of infections reported in a day exceeded 100. The city’s total
tally now stands at 3,272.
Citing the recent surge in cases as reason, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced tonight that the legislative council slated for Sept 6 will be postponed for a year. She said the “epidemic is at its worst," making it difficult to hold the elections without endangering public safety.
Of the new cases reported today, all except three, were
local transmissions. The imported cases include a Filipina domestic worker who
tested positive on arrival, despite the pro-boarding requirement in Manila
The two others were a seafarer from India and a businessman from Mexico
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said
that about half, or 62 of the new local cases, have links to previous
infections, while the sources for the 61 others are unknown. The linked cases
included 48 that spread among family members and friends.
Hospital Authority’s Sara Ho reported two more deaths, again
involving elderly patients, that raised the death toll to 27.
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| The latest fatality from Covid-19 was declared dead this morning at Queen Mary Hospital |
One was a 91-year-old man who passed away at 11:34 am at Queen Mary
Hospital
Earlier, at 12:18 am, an 82-year-old woman who also had
chronic diseases, passed on at Tuen
Mun Hospital
Dr Chuang listed among today’s notable cases an emerging
cluster in a direct marketing company called Star Global, with offices at
Kin-on Mansion on Argyle Street Kowloon
She said the basement office is engaged in the direct
selling of cosmetics and wine, and has enough room for training 100 in direct
selling. The police are helping health authorities in tracking down close
contacts of the infected people.
Two cases were also included in the cluster involving staff
of Metro Radio which has offices in Whampoa. There are now a total of eight
people linked to the office.
At Cornwall
There was another case linked to the Tao Heung restaurant at
Grand Plaza
Among the preliminary positive cases is a resident at an
elderly home in Fanling, and an employee at Caritas Evergreen Home in Sai Ying
Pun.
A couple of patients testing positive after being put in
general wards were also reported today, including one at Queen Elizabeth,
another at Princess Margaret, and at Tuen Mun Hospital. The patients’ close
contacts have been put under quarantine while under observation.
Dr Ho said the community isolation facility at
AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport will start accepting patients from tomorrow to
free up isolation beds in hospitals that have reached capacity.
She said a few patients who are younger and have mild to no
symptoms will be sent there initially, with the transfer being ramped up
gradually. Up to 500 patients could be accommodated in the new facility.
She has said that the surge in cases has left up to 200
confirmed or preliminary positive patients waiting to be admitted to hospitals.
This was even after around 300 patients were moved from
isolation rooms to tier-2 beds in isolation wards, and a further 100 recovering
patients to the isolation facility in Lei Yue Mun.
Today, 91 patients were discharged from hospitals, raising
the total number of recoveries to 1,751.
A total of 1,187 patients are still in 15 public hospitals,
43 of them critical, 39 serious, and
1,105 in stable condition.
