Dance cluster brings Covid infection in HK to three-month high

Another 46 people have been infected in the dancing cluster which sparked an explosion in cases as the city enters the fourth wave of Covid-19 upsurge.

Authorities reported 68 newly confirmed coronavirus cases yesterday - the highest daily number in three months and the worst day so far in the fourth wave, as experts warn the number could easily hit a daily 200 unless the government act swiftly to curb the winter surge.

On the 68 fresh cases, Centre for Health Protection's Chuang Shuk-kwan said they were 31 males and 37 females, 17 to 81, comprising seven imported, 50 linked to previous local infections and 11 from unknown local sources.

The tally rose to 5,629 including 108 deaths. More than 50 preliminary positive patients are waiting for confirmation.

Chuang said the latest addition takes the number of confirmed patients in the dancing cluster to 80.

Not only dancers were infected. Among the new cases yesterday was a cleaner from North Point's Shining Star Dance Studio, ringing a warning bell that there could be environmental contamination in the premise.

Secondary infections have also started. A family member of a previously diagnosed dancer, who is a teacher at Cheung Sha Wan's Hong Kong Institute of Technology, was confirmed with the virus.

She last taught 20 students in a face-to-face class last Friday. The school has to be closed as students get tested.

The cluster involving 14 dancing premises aside, one of yesterday's unknown source case coincidentally involved dancing.

A 45-year-old woman attended a massive dinner and dance event at Mei Foo's Kwan Ho Seafood Restaurant on November 16.

The woman recalled “there were many tables and people danced in the event” but authorities have to investigate whether it was a performance by a handful of dancers, or attendees joining in on a big dance floor.

But if past events were any reference, it would be worrying. A YouTube video which went viral alleged that dozens of unmasked diners attended a birthday party at one of the Kwan Ho restaurants two days before the infected woman's dinner attendance. People were dancing enthusiastically and without masks.

Another unknown source case was a 17-year-old student at Tai Po's Ling Liang Church MH Lau Secondary School, who last went to school on Friday. On the same day he developed a fever and went to a hospital emergency room.

The school will be closed for all teachers and students to be tested.

A 70-year-old woman infected from unknown source lives in Wah Shun Court in Kwai Chung's Wah Yuen Chuen. She sang Cantonese opera at Leighton Hill Community Hall during her infectious period last Tuesday, two days before she developed symptoms. She said the woman performed without a mask with another singer in front of 20 masked spectators.

Chuang said one of yesterday's unknown source case is a 45-year-old woman, who attended a massive dinner and dance event at Mei Foo's Kwan Ho Seafood Restaurant on November 16.

She said the woman recalled “there were many tables and people danced in the event” but authorities have to investigate whether they were performances by a handful dancers or a big dance floor for attendees.