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| Health officials announced the record tally at today's press briefing |
A record number of 67 Covid-19 cases were reported in Hong Kong today, Jul 16. Of these, 63 are local
transmissions, with 35 of unknown origin. A further 10 people tested preliminary positive.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection confirmed
at today’s press conference that this is the highest number of infections
reported since the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong
began in January.
She also dismissed a suggestion that the infection has
already peaked. “I cannot say that this is the peak because you can only know
that afterwards, so there’s still a chance that more cases are coming,” said
Chuang.
Of the four imported cases reported today, three were
domestic helpers: two flew from Manila ,
and another from Indonesia
The first Filipina is 38 years old and asymptomatic, and arrived on Jul 14 as a first-time domestic worker in Hong Kong. The second is 37 years old and was returning from a four-month stay in the Philippines. She had diarrhea.
The fourth imported case is a returning resident fromIndia
The first Filipina is 38 years old and asymptomatic, and arrived on Jul 14 as a first-time domestic worker in Hong Kong. The second is 37 years old and was returning from a four-month stay in the Philippines. She had diarrhea.
The fourth imported case is a returning resident from
The total number of cases rose to 1,655, but with only 319
patients remaining in 13 hospitals. The death toll rose to 10 yesterday, after
two elderly residents passed away in hospital within hours of each other.
But what worries health officials the most is the growing
number of local cases whose source is unknown, and appear to occur in nearly
all parts of the city.
“What is more worrying is that we have many untraceable
cases, where the source cannot be identified,” said Dr Lau Ka-hin, chief
manager of the Hospital Authority.
Among these are outbreaks in various hospitals, in
particular Queen Elizabeth Hospital
One of them lives in Tsz Wan Shan, site of the biggest
cluster of local cases; while the other one works as a dispatcher of non-emergency
vehicles.
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| Two staff members of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yaumatei are among the new confirmed cases today |
Three other cases were linked to the hospital earlier, which
started with an elderly patient who was put in a general ward and was found positive
after she was moved to the Hong
Kong Buddhist Hospital
In a reverse situation, a patient who was admitted to the
general ward of the Hong Kong
Buddhist Hospital
Also among today’s patients is a 71-year-old man who was
admitted to a ward at Tseung
Kwan-o Hospital
All the eight other patients in the ward were tested for the
virus, but were found negative.
At Princess
Margaret Hospital
There was also a 31-year-old nurse at the Adventist Hospital
In Tuen Mun hospital, a doctor was tested after one of his relatives was found infected, and he was identified as a close contact. Although the result was negative, he was still put under quarantine for observation.
Asked if hospitals needed to tighten their admission policy
so probable Covid-19 cases would not be put in general wards, Lau said this was
not possible because of the huge number of people seeking treatment.
“Otherwise, we will run out of isolation rooms,” he said.
Undersecretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yin clarified
that staff canteens are exempted from the ban for dine-in at restaurants from
6pm to 5am, but diners must follow the social distancing measures which took
effect yesterday.
Staff at restaurants may also eat inside after 6pm, but only
within a designated area separate from where patrons are seated.
He further clarified that people could wait for takeaway inside the restaurant after the designated time, as long as they wear masks and do no eat.
