Coronavirus: 10 new Hong Kong cases is the city’s biggest daily increase, as health officials express fears about rise in imported infections
- Officials reveal record daily tally in Hong Kong on Tuesday, which includes three people returning from their overseas studies
- Hospital Authority officials express worries about the capacity of public hospitals with rise in imported cases
Ten new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Hong Kong on Tuesday, marking the city’s largest daily increase and taking its total to 167.
The latest cases were recorded as Hong Kong authorities revealed they would start inspecting the vent pipes of all buildings where Covid-19 cases had been confirmed, after tests revealed the coronavirus was present in toilet piping in a Tai Po block where infected Hongkongers lived.
Dr Linda Yu Wai-ling, a chief manager of the Hospital Authority, said at a regular coronavirus press briefing that 21 patients were diverted from Hong Kong airport to nine hospitals on Monday night. Three of those were later confirmed infected with the virus.
Yu expressed concern about the capacity of public hospitals with the rise in imported cases.
“As there are more imported cases, and more overseas students returning to Hong Kong, we believe the figures of [isolation bed usage] will remain at a high level,” Yu said.
Among the 10 newly confirmed cases, one was a 69-year-old man who had travelled to Britain, Paris and Spain.