Coronavirus: worker at mainland agency among seven new Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong

The 44-year-old man lived in North Point and worked at the Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan, according to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch. His infection was discovered during regular testing by his company.

The central government’s liaison office has a branch in the West Tower of Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan, in addition to its main headquarters in Sai Ying Pun.

The centre said the man had not left the city during the two week incubation period of the virus but was in Shenzhen from　late September to early this month. He returned to the city through the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint on October 6 and was exempted from quarantine. He tested negative three days later.

Eleven colleagues who sat near him and those who used the same pantry will be sent to a government quarantine camp. The other workers will undergo a second test. The liaison office declined to comment.

But Chuang urged revellers to enjoy the festivities in a “safe manner”.

“Don’t have everyone remove their masks and talk loudly as they mix and mingle together,” Chuang said. “Avoiding these will reduce risks.”