Omicron: fresh cases at locked-down Hong Kong housing estate raises fears of cross-infection
- Health authorities confirm 58 new infections in several towers at Kwai Chung Estate
- Infected family points to crowded lifts and long waits while lining up for tests
Even as health authorities maintained that the Omicron outbreak at Kwai Chung Estate was largely under control, they extended the lockdown order for Ying Kwai House, until Saturday, meaning some residents would have spent more than a week mostly confined to their flats when the operation ends. So far, 334 infections including preliminary cases have been recorded in 12 of the 16 blocks.
“There is a downward trend of infection at Yat Kwai House, while further observation is needed at Ying Kwai House, and no significant increases in cases have been noted in other blocks,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).
“But as there are many people in Kwai Chung Estate, as well as their close contacts, by the time we have identified any infections, the virus has spread through a few generations.”
Hong Kong logged 107 new infections on Wednesday, all but seven of which were locally transmitted.