The SUN HK : 3 Indonesian DHs among 84 new Covid-19 cases

By The SUN

Arriving passengers at HK Airport may be subjected to stricter rules

Hong Kong health officials reported 84 new Covid-19 cases today, Nov 28, as the Chief Executive announced stricter measures for newly arrived travelers, and warned of harsher penalties for those who withhold information about their infections.

Of today’s confirmed cases, three were imported, all involving Indonesian domestic workers who tested positive while in quarantine in separate hotels.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Twenty seven were of unknown origin, while 54 were linked to previous infections, including 48 from the dance cluster, which is now the city’s biggest, with 415 patients. The city’s total tally is now 6,123 with 108 deaths.

CE Carrie Lam said on a radio program earlier today that the government will tighten its restrictions at the border by requiring all incoming travelers to only use designated transport and undergo quarantine in selected hotels.

Call now!

At present, new arrivals who test negative for the virus at the airport are allowed to take public or private vehicles to go to a hotel to start their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Medical experts and some officials have said this could increase the spread of the coronavirus, even if the CE had, at one point, said there was little chance of this happening as the traveler had already tested negative.

CONTACT US!

CE Lam also said during the interview that her cabinet was reviewing whether to increase the penalty for businesses and individuals who violate anti-epidemic measures, such as failing to disclose their close contacts and places they had been to during the incubation period.

Lam said the plan is to minimize threat to public health.

At present, concealing or refusing to disclose information relevant to the investigation of coronavirus cases will incur a fine of up to $50,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months.

Chuang says the extent of the infection in the community is worrying

Meanwhile, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection expressed concern anew over the mounting number of cases with unknown sources.

“Although the number of daily cases at 80 or 90 is already a lot, the number of unlinked local cases is rapidly increasing … Although we might later find out that some of them might be linked to some other clusters, the extent of spread in the community is very worrying,” she said.

Chuang also disclosed that about 80 other people had tested preliminary positive.

Of the newly reported cases, 31 were detected at community testing centers.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Among the new cases is a teacher at Canossa School in Quarry Bay, who is part of the dance cluster. All the teachers and students there will be tested, while the school will be closed for 14 days for disinfection.

A family member of the patient who is also a teacher at Tack Ching Girl’s Secondary School in Cheung Sha Wan has tested negative, but as a precaution, the school will also be closed for one or two days.

Tunghayan ang isa na namang klwentong Dream Love

One of the cases with unknown source is a cleaner at Red Swastika Society Tuen Mun primary school. All teachers and students at the school will have to be tested.

Another case that cannot be traced is a chef at the high-end 81/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana restaurant at Alexandra House in Central. A waiter there has also tested preliminary positive. All staff will have to be quarantined and the restaurant closed temporarily.

Tap for more details

Health officials also disclosed that 1,500 units at Penny Bay quarantine center are now fully occupied, so the government has reopened the other facilities at Pat Heung and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village.

Dr. Linda Yu, chief manager of the Hospital Authority, said 567 confirmed patients are now being treated in 20 public hospitals and the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo. Among them, seven are in critical condition, four are serious, and 556 are in stable condition.