Six added to United Christian Hospital cluster as HK reports 61 Covid cases

The United Christian Hospital cluster saw six additional Covid patients, after 12 patients and 7 staffers were earlier confirmed infected.

The Centre for Health Protection said as of 12am today,  it has recorded 61 additional confirmed coronavirus cases – one imported and 60 local – bringing the tally to 8,672 cases.

Among the 61 patients were 17 men and 44 women, aged between one to 100 years. There were also around 40 preliminary positive cases today.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection's Communicable Disease Branch, said of the fresh local cases today, 41 were linked to previous local infections and 19 with untraceable sources. 

Residents living in Wing Shui House at Lek Yuen Estate in Sha Tin may face mandatory testing after one more resident has been tested preliminary positive. A total of four units have since been affected, with three of them being opposite or adjacent to each other.

“The mandatory testing order will be issued once the case was confirmed,” said Chuang.

Chuang also said a Vietnamese illegal immigrant detained at Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre had tested positive for Covid.

The Vietnamese was sent to the center for detention pending removal on December 14, he was first tested negative upon admittance to the center. He was later tested positive in a second deep throat saliva test in the afternoon yesterday.

“A total of six other detainees being in the same confinement with the Vietnamese were classified as close contacts and have to be put under quarantine,” Chuang added.