Coronavirus: Hong Kong lawmaker tests positive 2 days after posing for photo with Xi Jinping during 25th anniversary of handover celebrations
- Steven Ho attended photo session with Chinese president on Thursday and tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday
- Ho’s infection has raised concerns over effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures adopted for anniversary
Steven Ho Chun-yin, who represents the agriculture and fisheries functional constituency, revealed on Sunday he had tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday and was self-isolating after reporting his infection to health authorities.
“The sample on June 30 came back negative. The July 1 sample was classified as uncertain, containing a low viral load with an extremely low risk of transmission,” he said on social media. “But to protect public safety, I did not participate in the activities on July 1.”
Ho attended the photo session on June 30, the first day of Xi’s two-day visit to the city, and stood behind the president in the middle of the third row. Everyone, including Xi, appeared to be wearing a mask during the meet-and-greet session.
Nearly 3,000 guests and staff members were required to check into two five-star hotels near the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai, where anniversary events were held, for mandatory quarantine to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19 last Wednesday. Under an arrangement known as point-to-point “closed-loop” management, they had to conduct nucleic acid testing every day during their stay and travel to celebration venues via private transport.
Ho’s infection has sparked concern over the potential health risk to Xi.