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| Dr Wong says the situation has turned critical since a new local outbreak was reported last weekend |
Health officials have warned that the situation in Hong Kong has turned “critical” as they reported 14 new
Covid-19 cases, nine of them locally acquired, at a press conference held today, Jul
7.
Of the five imported cases, three were new arrivals from the
Philippines , and two from Pakistan Hong Kong ’s
total Covid-19 tally to 1,299.
Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of the Centre for
Health Protection, said the situation has worsened considerably since local
cases were reported last weekend, ending three weeks of no community
transmissions being recorded.
He and other health officials are particularly
concerned about a possible outbreak in the Kong Tai Care for Aged Centre
Limited in Tsz Wan Shan, after an 85-year-old female resident tested positive
for the virus.
Three other residents at the nursing home tested
preliminary positive, including a 79-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman.
Another resident who had fever, was also sent to hospital.
CHP’s head of the communicable disease branch,
Dr Chuang Shuk –kwan, said the tests will be carried out on the other residents
at the nursing home. In the meantime, they have all been sent to the Jockey
Club PHAB Camp for medical observation.
“Perhaps
there is an outbreak in the care home, although we are not sure of the source
of infections yet,” said Dr Chuang.
In at least four other local cases, the source
is also not known, including that of a 40-year-old man who works at the IT
department of the Hospital Authority who visited Disneyland
earlier this month.
The same is true in the case of
another man who works as a chef at the Rich Pot Shabu Shabu in Shek Mun. His wife, son and daughter were found to have
symptoms and were sent to hospital for observation.
Two
separate clusters of infection is seen to emerge at two other restaurants.
Three new cases reported today were linked to
the Bun Kee Congee and Noodle Foods in Ping Shek Estate in Choi Hung, where two
men who worked in the kitchen were earlier confirmed to have the coronavirus
disease.
They include a 58-year-old taxi driver who
ordered takeaway from the restaurant and his 14-year-old son who ate the food;
and a 28-year-old man who had lunch there.
Two of the new cases were linked to Sun Fat
Restaurant in Jordan
The customer, in turn, appears to have passed on the disease
to his 14-year-old son who studies at the Church
of Christ in China Rotary
Secondary School
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| The CCC Rotary School has been shut for two weeks after a student tested positive for Covid-19 today |
Chuang said the school has been asked to shut for two weeks
for thorough cleansing as a result of the case, and added that all schools must
do the same if they have confirmed cases.
Asked if all schools need to be closed again in case of new
infections being reported, Chuang said authorities are considering various
options and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
As part of ramped-up measures to prevent community transmission,
all members of air and sea crew entering Hong Kong
through the airport would be required to submit saliva sample from tomorrow.
Previously, they were not made to undergo Covid-19
screening, or undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine required of all incoming travelers
from abroad.
