Fears mount over more cases from Hong Kong bar cluster, as city records 11 new Covid-19 infections

Concern grows over a cluster of cases linked to a Tsim Sha Tsui bar, prompting discussions about reimposing closures across the industry

Fresh infections also emerge in schools and at a care home for the disabled

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Hong Kong officials are involved in discussions behind the scenes on whether to close bars and pubs again to prevent Covid-19’s spread. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 11:58am, 7 Oct 2020Updated: 11:33pm, 7 Oct 2020

Health authorities identified more Covid-19 infections on Wednesday stemming from a worrying outbreak at a Hong Kong bar, as new cases also emerged in schools and a care home for the disabled.

Officials confirmed 11 new cases, nine of them locally transmitted, while a government adviser called for social-distancing measures to be tightened immediately.

“We have to be prepared for the worst,” said Gabriel Leung, dean of the medical school at the University of Hong Kong. “We will face a large outbreak again if we do not tighten any measures now.”

Authorities were already mulling another citywide closure of pubs and bars to mitigate a potential fourth wave of Covid-19, according to a source.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the Centre for Health Protection, warned that untraced cases had been increasing, with three among the latest infections.

“It’s a worrying situation and we are afraid that there may be a rebound,” she said.

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