Coronavirus: Hong Kong records 12 new infections as official reveals vaccination programme delayed until early March
- Among latest cases is a hairdresser employed at public broadcaster RTHK, prompting officials to quarantine about 20 people
- Prominent barrister Audrey Eu, who was due to defend media tycoon Jimmy Lai in court, must self-isolate and will miss start of his trial for illegal assembly
The latest caseload matched Saturday’s figure, a three-month low. All but two of the new cases were locally transmitted, including three untraceable infections. The city’s overall infection tally stood at 10,779, with 193 related deaths.
More than 10 people tested preliminary-positive for the virus.
In a boost to the hopes of many for a resumption of normal life, the city’s No 2 official, Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said in his blog the government was “cautiously optimistic” about the epidemic, and reiterated plans to reopen from Thursday some closed leisure venues and resume evening dine-in services at restaurants.
Dr Chui Tak-yi, undersecretary for food and health, stayed on message at a regular Covid-19 press briefing on Sunday.
“The number of new cases remains [in the] low double digits but of course the situation may always change,” Chui said.