Race to contain terminal cluster amid 33 new cases

Another 33 workers from Wang Kee Port Operation Services at Kwai Tsing container terminal have tested positive, prompting the quarantining of nearly 100 of the company's staff.

But terminal operations will continue, as it is important for importing of daily necessities.

The 33 were among 74 new cases yesterday, comprising four imported cases, 50 linked to previous local infections and 20 from unknown local sources, taking the SAR's tally to 4,481 with more than 20 preliminarily positive.

The death toll rose to 69, with two men, 78 and 90, dying yesterday.

The Centre for Health Protection's head of communicable disease branch, Chuang Shuk-kwan, said the Wang Kee problem resided in a common rest area.

"They shared facilities like beds, toilets, showers and tables the infection rate can be very high, even 100 percent," she said.

The 33 mostly asymptomatic cases were detected as deep throat saliva bottles were distributed at the terminal as cases spiked.

So far, the terminal cluster has hit 63: 55 workers and eight close contacts.

Of the workers, 41 are Wang Kee staff, while the rest are from nine other companies.

Most of those infected at Wang Kee worked outdoors at duties like cargo unloading, logistics and container repair.

Chuang said: "Of course, it's best to close the terminal to completely break transmission chains, but it plays a critical role in the supply of daily necessities."

She added: "Our priority is to control the Wang Kee cluster first and see if other cases also constitute clusters before deciding on the next step."

Officers are distributing 7,000 to 8,000 deep throat saliva bottles to all terminal workers to find asymptomatic carriers. Chuang said apart from the 33, a female terminal worker also tested positive.

Meanwhile, Cheong Hing Mansion in Mong Kok saw an Indonesian helper who had lived in a second-floor unit last month infected. Another helper who lived in the unit also tested preliminarily positive.

Four others living there and the maid's new employer at Fung Tak public estate in Diamond Hill will be quarantined.

An investigation found the unit's landlord also owns a ninth floor flat, which was rented out at daily rates.

This comes as a 40-year-old Indonesian helper who had lived on the ninth floor was diagnosed last week.

"We are worried about transmission in Cheong Hing Mansion, so we will distribute saliva bottles to all residents," Chuang said.