Staff of Yuen Long eatery not source of infection cluster, says health expert

Ho Pak-leung, head of the University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Infection said on Tuesday that a Covid-hit restaurant in Yuen Long need not be suspended from business as their staff was not the source of infection.  

His comment came after health officials yesterday reported the number of cases related to the Peony Golden Court cluster has increased to 12 after they stepped up tracking of some 190 diners.  

Read more: Yuen Long hotpot cluster infection rises to 12 as HK adds 233 new cases  

The infectious disease expert noted that the environmental samples taken from Peony Golden Court were all negative, and the restaurant had already been cleaned and disinfected.  

Separately, he said it would be inappropriate to ask diners to show a negative rapid test result before they’re allowed in restaurants, one day after the suggestion was put forward by medical expert Joseph Tsang Kay-yan.  

Ho criticized the suggestion as “out of touch,” with the rapid test requirement similar to compulsory daily rapid testing, as nearly half of the city’s workforce usually dine out.  

Simon Wong Kit–Lung, chairman of the Institution of Dining Art, echoed his views, who also labeled the suggestion as “impractical.”  

The restaurant operator noted that restaurants have no way to check if the test was done on the day.  

“Of course, it’s only the view of one expert, and the government has yet to make a response. I personally don’t think the administration would consider it,” Wong said, adding that the practice would be impossible in reality.