Mask rules at Hong Kong gyms tightened as Covid-19 cluster spreads across city, while woman becomes fourth person to die after getting Sinovac jab
- More than a dozen of the 22 new coronavirus cases tied to popular fitness centre in Sai Ying Pun; staff at top banks in city among those affected
- Department of Health also expected to release vaccination guidelines over the next few days
Anyone going to the gym in Hong Kong must wear a mask from midnight on Thursday, after a “super-spreading” coronavirus cluster linked to a popular fitness centre in the city affected international schools, banks and other gyms, and resulted in more than 240 people being quarantined.
In a statement, the government said the rule would be in force for six days. Previously, apart from those in group classes, people working out at a gym were not required to wear masks.
The move came as a chronically ill 70-year-old woman died on Thursday, after getting the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine on March 2, while a 67-year-old man, who took the jab on the same day, remained in critical condition after he collapsed at noon.
On Thursday, health authorities said 16 of 22 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases citywide were tied to the Ursus Fitness gym in Sai Ying Pun, a neighbourhood popular with expats.
The total number of people linked to the cluster has grown to 17, while about 30 of the more than 40 new preliminary-positive cases were also related to the gym, including teachers and bankers.
Ten schools also announced they were temporarily closing after either discovering cases or as a precautionary measure just weeks after in-person classes resumed following Lunar New Year. At least three of them cited the Ursus Fitness cluster as the reason.