By Daisy CL Mandap
 |
| Doctors were joined by an EPD official at today's press briefing |
This is the highest number reported since the pandemic swept across the city two years ago, and beats the previous record set in July last year, when 149 cases were reported.
Dr Edwin Tsui, controller of the Centre for Health Protection said the infection rate in the community is getting higher by the day. “Our assessment is the risk of transmission is extremely high,” he said, pointing out to about 30 cases whose sources remain unknown.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
"Despite our tracing effort, more than 30 cases are still untraceable. It shows that in the community there are still scores of silent transmissions so the risk is still very high."
Dr Tsui appealed to the public to avoid large gatherings, including those among family members belonging to different households. “During the Chinese New Year, please avoid cross-family gatherings,” he said.
According to CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, the new cases include 116 which were locally acquired, 12 of which are unlinked.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The 48 others are all imported, including the 40 preliminary
cases reported yesterday, which were all new arrivals from Kathmandu and
At the time of the press briefing, about 100 preliminary positive cases had been reported, but “they are still coming in,” said Dr Chuang.
The unlinked cases, which have always been a cause for
concern among experts as they suggest hidden transmission chains, were found
across several districts, mainly in
Dr Chuang said the patients come from various sectors, including students, domestic helpers, parttime staff and retirees.
 |
| The 30 unlinked cases involve people from all walks of life |
In an overview, Dr Tsui said the surge in cases which occurred on Jan 23 involves two major transmissions, the Omicron spread which started from the Silka Seaview Hotel and spread to Kwai Chung estate; and the Delta cluster first detected among hamsters.
 |
| Pindutin para sa detalye |
He said the number of cases reported from the Kwai Chung housing blocks has dropped considerably, from the 76 reported on Jan 22 to single digits today.
“We believe we are at the end of the transmission period, especially for Yat Kwai House,” he said.
For Yat Kwai House, he said a total of 251 residents have tested positive so far, but only six new cases were found overnight.
For Ying Kwai House, a total of 81 residents have been infected, but only three new cases were reported overnight.
 |
| Press for details |
The other affected blocks are:
- Nga Kwai House, 9 total, 3 tested positive overnight;
- Hiu Kwai House - 4 total, 1 new case overnight
- Chun Kwai House - 4 total, 1 new case overnight
- Chau Kwai House - 1 previous, 1 more overnight
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
But giving a cause for concern is the Delta spread at Cheung Bor House in Choi Hung, which has been locked down for another day after authorities found more residents there who have infected.
The building was placed under lockdown Wednesday night after a security guard and two residents tested positive for the coronavirus. Earlier today, the authorities announced that the lockdown will be extended until Friday morning because of the high risk of infection within the building.
Tsui today said 18 more cases were detected from the residential block yesterday, and authorities suspect both vertical and horizontal transmission has occurred. He said 62 flats in the building were being evacuated as they spoke.
Also among the speakers at the press briefing was Dr. Samuel
Chui of the Environmental Protection Department. He said the EPD has been
monitoring the sewage of over 5 million people in
The waste water samples are tested for both Omicron and
Delta, and because of this, the invisible transmission of the Delta variant in
Meanwhile, Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority said 32 patients have been discharged from various hospitals since yesterday.
A total of 662 patients remain hospitalized in North Lantau Hospital Infection Control Centre, the HA Infectious Disease Centre, the Asia World Expo and 12 public hospitals. All are stable.
 |
| CALL US! |
