Jockey Club staff member in coronavirus quarantine camp after family member infected
- The employee, who works in the telebet department, has been isolated after telling the club a family member is one of the 38 people in Hong Kong diagnosed with the virus
A Jockey Club staff member is under isolation in a quarantine camp after a family member was confirmed to have the coronavirus.
The employee, who works in the telebet department on the third floor of the Sha Tin Communications and Technology Centre, notified the club on Sunday that a family member is one of the 38 people in Hong Kong diagnosed with the virus and is undergoing hospital treatment.
As instructed by the Department of Health, she is under isolation in one of the quarantine camps but is not currently showing any symptoms of infection.
The Jockey Club confirmed the situation on Monday afternoon.
Coronavirus: racetrack crowds cut to 400 as Jockey Club accepts government demands
“Upon receiving the notification, the club immediately disinfected the telebet department and other areas including toilets, lifts and canteens,” the Jockey Club said in a statement.
“According to our record, the employee reported for duty four times in the past two weeks, with the last being on February 5.
“We are now contacting staff who have worked in her vicinity based on her work record for the last 14 days.
“While the government’s guidelines do not require self-isolation of these staff, the club has decided that in the interests of employee health, these staff will not be required to report for duty at the workplace for the next two weeks.
“They have also been advised to consult a doctor promptly. Their receipts for medical treatment will be reimbursed by the club.
“In addition, the third floor of the telebet department will be closed until further notice.”
The telebet department, which handles bets from customers over the phone, had already been the subject of precautionary measures, with nine lines shut down on Tuesday, February 4, while off-course betting branches were also shut on that date.
While the Jockey Club continues to race, it has continued to enforce tighter restrictions on who can attend meetings, with just 400 people allowed on track for the next three race days – jockeys, trainers, key personnel and owners with runners.
Coronavirus: Zac Purton assures fans the jockeys just ‘want to keep racing’
“We think that by having 400 people or less on track means there is minimal risk of spreading the virus,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told the Post on Saturday.
“With 700,000 to 800,000 fans watching our races on TV, it helps keep people at home rather than out on the streets and therefore helps to contain the situation.
“We really think it is important to keep racing and provide a source of entertainment in these circumstances. If we stop racing, it is likely we won’t be back for about three months.”
The restrictions have had a big impact on betting turnover, with Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting down HK$410 million on last year’s comparative card to HK$1.116 billion.
The Jockey Club is the biggest taxpayer in Hong Kong and one of the leading charity donors in the world.
