Hong Kong fourth wave: health expert warns against Richland Gardens lockdown, as 86 new Covid-19 cases confirmed
- 81 cases were locally transmitted, including 37 of unknown origin
- Richland Gardens buildings present ‘inherent risk that cannot be eliminated’, Leung Chi-chiu warns
Environmental tests of various parts of a Covid-19-hit Hong Kong housing estate, including toilet exhaust fans, have come back positive for coronavirus, health officials revealed on Friday, as the city confirmed 86 new infections.
The findings were disclosed just hours after a respiratory medicine expert urged the government not to consider locking down Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay as it risked exposing more of the estate’s residents to Covid-19.
One more infection was confirmed at the estate on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the cluster, centred on Block 6, to nine. Of the 86 cases confirmed citywide on Friday, 81 were locally transmitted, including 37 of unknown origin. The other five infections were imported.
Friday’s tally broke a three-day streak of more than 100 daily Covid-19 cases.
The city has now recorded a total of 7,377 infections, with 114 related deaths.
With the city battling its fourth wave of infections, the government also announced that work-from-home arrangements would be extended until December 23 for all civil servants, except those providing emergency and essential public services.