Hong Kong seeks Thai consulate’s help over Covid-19 cluster threat, temporarily bans Nepal Airlines as city records 11 new cases
- A total of four women from Thailand have been confirmed positive or tested preliminary positive since October 1
- The two-week ban on Nepal Airlines flights follows six passengers testing positive for coronavirus after arriving on Saturday
Overall, the city recorded 11 confirmed coronavirus infections, pushing the tally to 5,124. Seven were imported, with one case originating in India and six arriving aboard Nepal Airlines flight RA4099 on Saturday.
The six infections prompted the government to suspend flights from the airline for two weeks, until October 17.
Two Thai patients, meanwhile, one of whom tested preliminary positive, pushed the number of cases in the community to four in less than a week.
“We are worried about a possible spread among the Thai community during their gatherings, so we have liaised with the Thai consulate hoping they can help distribute bottles [for virus tests] to its nationals,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).
Chuang said the Royal Thai Consulate-General told them it would distribute sample bottles to the estimated 100 Thai nationals who visit there each day.
Of the four Thai cases, two have been stranded in the city since March due to Thai restrictions on flights to the country.