Leading Hong Kong microbiologist and government pandemic adviser Yuen Kwok-yung infected with Covid-19
- Yuen tells the Post he is asymptomatic and isolating at home according to government guidelines, and does not know how he caught the virus
- The chair professor of infectious diseases at HKU’s department of microbiology has often been in the spotlight, airing his views on the pandemic
Leading Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung, known for his media appearances and visits to Covid-19 cluster sites, has been infected with the coronavirus.
The government pandemic adviser told the Post on Thursday that it was unclear how he caught the disease, including whether transmission had occurred in the natural environment or in his laboratory.
“I am asymptomatic and isolating at home according to the government’s epidemic prevention guidelines,” he said, adding it was good to get some rest after working non-stop for three years amid the pandemic.
“I was always in the lab testing DNA and doing all kinds of virus experiments all the time. I can’t determine if I was naturally infected or caught it in the lab,” he added.
Yuen, a chair professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong’s department of microbiology, has wide media exposure, often airing his views on the pandemic.
He has visited residential buildings with Covid-19 clusters, being involved in tracking down infection sources.