HK logs nine new cases on last day of LNY holiday, marking lowest in three months

Hong Kong reported nine new infections – the lowest in three months – on the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, but health experts warned the number of fresh cases might rebound after the long vacation. 

The daily figure, which marked a new low since November 18, included four locally transmitted infections, of which three were untraceable. 

Among the untraceable cases was a 34-year-old man who works at a bakery shop in Tuen Mun V CITY’s YATA supermarket. The patient last worked on Saturday, and started developing symptoms yesterday. The bread shop would be closed for disinfection works in the following two weeks. 

Dr. Albert Au Ka-wing, principal medical and health officer of the Department of Health, said another 79-year-old woman living at Ka Lim Lau of Ka Wai Chuen in Hung Hom was confirmed with the virus through a mandatory testing order imposed on the building. The number of cases found at the premise stands at five. 

A  general clerk who works at a law firm on Queen’s Road Central was tested positive with the virus. She last worked on 11 February and visited her relatives at Oi Tung Estate in Shau Kai Wan.

Au said the only traceable infection was linked to a previous cluster at Lung Wah Building in Tsuen Wan. 

Health authorities also identified less than 10 preliminary cases pending confirmation, which included an 8-year-old girl, a housewife and a firefighter. 

The remaining cases were imported from Indonesia, Poland, India and the Philippines.

Dr. Ronald Lam Man-kin, Controller of Centre for Health Protection of Department of Health, said during the Lunar New Year holiday, citizens might not be seeing doctors even if they feel unwell.  

Lam urged citizens who felt even slightly ill to avoid working or seeing relatives and friends.