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| Clean-up operations are being carried out in many parts of HK as the Covid-19 cases continue to surge |
Of the new cases, 111 were locally acquired, another record
high. On top of the confirmed cases, around 80 other people have tested
preliminary positive from midnight last night.
One more death was recorded this afternoon, raising the
fatality toll to 15. The deceased was a 63-year-old man with chronic illnesses
who died at Queen
Elizabeth Hospital
Of the seven imported cases, three were foreign domestic
helpers who had just arrived from the Philippines ,
three were returnees from India ,
and one an air cargo crew who flew in from Japan
In addition, 140 seafarers, some of them Filipinos, have
been quarantined in six different ships anchored off Lamma island, after an
undetermined number among their crew tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong
airport.
But a bigger concern is still the rapid spread of the
coronavirus in the community.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said
that among today’s local cases, more than 60 are linked to previous infections,
most of them among family members and co-workers, while the rest are of unknown
origin.
A big number are linked to Tsz Wan Shan, the epicenter of
the latest outbreak. They include several more diners at restaurants in the
area, and another vegetable vendor in the wet market.
But there were new cases involving various eateries, including a staff at McDonald’s in
In addition, there was an inventory staff at a Market Place
outlet in Taipo.
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| HK's health officials have repeated an appeal for people to stay at home, especially the elderly |
Dr Chuang said some of the new cases had been to a banquet
at the Tao Heung restaurant in Mong Kok, where other guests had tested positive
earlier. Tao Heung said all its restaurants will be closed for 10 days from
Sunday for cleansing.
But restaurants weren’t the only source of infections.
Today’s cases also included a police officer at the Wanchai station, a
secondary school teacher, a truck driver who works at the Tsing Ma container
port, staff at an elderly home in Tai Wai, a health worker at Queen Elizabeth
hospital, and staff at a Chinese medical clinic in Kwai Chung.
The number of critically ill patients also rose to an
all-time high of 33 today, with 14 in
serious condition, according to the Hospital Authority’s Dr Linda Yu. The 566
others who are in 14 public hospitals are in stable condition.
According to Chuang, the high number of critically or
seriously patients is mainly because many of the new patients are elderly
people with chronic ailments, “who came to the hospital rather late.”
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| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love |
This has led Undersecretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi to
appeal to the public, particularly the elderly, to avoid going out, and for
everyone not to gather for meals including with family members living in
another flat.
He said that between Jul 16 to Jul 22, a total of 543
confirmed cases recorded, and 481 of them were locally acquired. This was more
than twice as many as the number in the previous week.
That was the reason, according to him, for the government’s
stringent new measures, including a requirement for everyone to wear a mask
when going to indoor public places like a supermarket and wet market, apart
from public transportation.
From Saturday, all new arrivals from seven countries
identified as high-risk, including the Philippines ,
will have to present proof of testing negative in a swab test for Covid-19, and
a confirmed booking for at least 14 days in a Hong Kong
hotel, for the mandatory quarantine.
On Jul 28, the requirements will be extended to those flying
in from the United States
