Coronavirus: US consulate in Hong Kong temporarily closes after being caught up in outbreak; six more buildings locked down as city reports 30 new cases
- For third straight night, authorities place several buildings in Central and Western district under lockdown, with residents required to take virus test
- Two consulate employees, a couple from same family, admitted to hospital in line with procedures, government said
For the third straight night, authorities placed several buildings in Central and Western district under lockdown, with residents, who were barred from going out until the operation ended, required to take a coronavirus test.
The latest overnight operation to uncover hidden infections came as the city reported 30 new cases, 16 of which were locally transmitted. The other 14 were imported. The two consulate infections were listed as preliminary-positive.
01:18
Hong Kong expands Covid-19 vaccination eligibility to residents aged 30-59
Thirteen local infections were linked to Ursus Fitness, the gym in Sai Ying Pun at the centre of the super-spreading cluster, bringing the related tally to 122 cases.
Dr Ronald Lam Man-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), said 860 close contacts of cluster patients had been quarantined. Also, more than 2,200 live-in household members of the close contacts had been ordered to undergo compulsory testing, involving over 100 buildings or premises.
“We have also conducted DNA screening on these cluster cases and so far we haven’t found any virus variants from these cases,” he said.