Coronavirus: Hong Kong security minister Chris Tang undergoes 14-day isolation after wife, helper test positive
- Tang’s wife and helper are waiting for admission to hospital or isolation facilities; minister identified as close contact and will work from home
- Undersecretary for Innovation and Technology David Chung also tests preliminary-positive on the day city confirms all-time daily record of 8,674 new infections
The city’s political elite have been plagued by infection fears over the past week, with Undersecretary for Innovation and Technology David Chung Wai-keung becoming the first senior official to test preliminary-positive for the virus on Wednesday, as the city confirmed a daily record of 8,674 infections.
Two chauffeurs from his bureau were earlier reported as infected.
The Security Bureau said in a statement on Wednesday evening that Tang’s wife returned a positive result from a rapid test at noon. The couple, their family members and the domestic helper then submitted deep throat saliva specimens for testing.
Tang’s wife and the helper were later confirmed as infected and were staying at home pending admission to hospital or isolation facilities.
“Tang this morning tested negative after a Covid-19 rapid antigen test, and his subsequent deep throat saliva specimen submitted for testing also showed a negative result,” the bureau’s spokesman said, adding that the minister was identified as a close contact and would have to undergo more tests within the two-week period.
The security minister had been tasked with overseeing the operation of community isolation facilities, and at least 1,000 retired officers from the disciplined services were hired to help manage the sites.
