Untraceable infections 'found all over the city'

Wallis Wang

Hong Kong yesterday recorded 31 Covid cases with unknown sources - the highest since the fifth wave began in late December - as health officials warned that infections will surge following family gatherings during the Lunar New Year holiday.

There were a total of 142 cases yesterday, when the government announced that all nonessential public services will be suspended due to the worsening pandemic situation. Additionally, around 160 preliminary positive cases awaited confirmation.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, the Centre for Health Protection's head of communicable disease branch, said the 31 untraceable cases were found all over the city, including in Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Sham Shui Po, Tin Shui Wai, Kwai Chung and North Point.

"We believe there are many silent transmission chains and undetected cases," Chuang said.

"The number of untraceable cases is increasing and, based on foreign experience, the Omicron variant can lead to an exponential growth of infections. We are worried that there will be hundreds of infections every day in the future."

Chuang said some people contracted the virus during family gatherings, prompting her to urge the public to stay at home and avoid social activities.

Among the untraceable cases, six are cleaners at the Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, the Landmark in Central, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital in Tsuen Wan, Tsz On Court in Tsz Wan Shan and Tuen Mun.

The MTR Corp also said a contractor cleaner at Wong Tai Sin station tested positive on Wednesday and is hospitalized for treatment.

Chuang said vertical transmission is suspected at Bik Shui House at Shui Pin Wai Estate in Yuen Long after residents living in units 18 on different floors were infected. Health officials were to inspect the building.

Two employees at Lam Woo Home for the Elderly in Kwai Chung tested positive on January 31 and Wednesday, respectively, and more than 60 residents will be sent to the Penny's Bay quarantine center.

A fish stall in Hung Hom Market was linked to two infections, Chuang said.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said the market was shut two hours earlier yesterday and will be closed today for disinfection.

The department said all tenants of the market will have to undergo free tests and can only return to work after testing negative.

Hing Ping House at Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun was locked down last night amid several preliminary positive cases detected there.

Fu Cheong Court, Kwai Cheong Court and Wing Cheong Court of Fortune Plaza in Tai Po were also locked down after sewage discharged from the buildings tested positive.

Meanwhile, sources said deputy commissioner for labour Jeff Leung Wing-yan has tested positive. It is understood that Leung attended several government meetings before he was confirmed infected, though he was absent from one held by senior executives of the Labour and Welfare Bureau on Monday.

Also, nonessential public services will be suspended as the government expands its work-from-home arrangements today, covering most staff - except those providing emergency and vital services, as well as those involved in anti-epidemic work. Other government employees should stay at home as much as possible, a government spokesman said.

Earlier yesterday, hundreds of worried residents in Sha Tin queued at community testing centers and mobile testing stations after authorities detected the virus in sewage in a number of buildings in the district.

Around 400 queued in the cold outside the Lek Yuen Community Hall at 9am, with some saying they had to wait for half an hour to get tested.

A man surnamed Pang said the positive sewage samples near the Sha Tin MTR station worried him.

"People should not have waited for such a long time to get tested because it's difficult for the elderly. It would be better if there are more mobile testing stations," he said.

Respiratory expert Leung Chi-chiu said the recent increase in untraceable cases shows that current pandemic restrictions are not enough.

If the measures are effective, the number of new cases would decrease within a week, Leung said.

He said the government should offer incentives to further boost the vaccination rate among the elderly and care home residents.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com