Coronavirus: cluster alert at major Hong Kong Yata department store amid ‘worsening’ fourth wave, as city records 78 new cases
- Workers at Sha Tin retail hub test positive while Monday’s cases swell outbreaks at dance venues, construction sites, housing block
- Public health expert says number of untraceable cases in city shows current outbreak has got worse
Contagion fears at the Sha Tin branch of Yata, a shopping complex drawing masses of customers, were raised after several staff were among 78 new confirmed infections, including 29 local cases with untraceable sources.
Hospital officials also reiterated their warnings over the growing pressure on intensive care units, with the current wave of Covid-19 setting it apart from others by younger people also falling seriously ill.
Monday also brought more infections linked to the “super-spreader” dance venue cluster, construction sites in Tseung Kwan O and Kai Tak, and a public housing estate in Kwai Chung.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, revealed that one more resident from Block 8 of Kwai Shing West Estate had been confirmed infected, but that person did not live on the fifth floor of the block.
