Govt cites LNY holiday as reason for few Covid cases

Hong Kong on Saturday reported 12 new coronavirus cases, the lowest number since the fourth wave of infections hit the territory.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said ten of the cases were locally transmitted, with two of them from unknown sources. There were fewer than ten preliminary positive cases.

But the Director of Health, Constance Chan, said the low figure could be because most private clinics are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, and local people generally don’t visit a doctor during festive times.

“If [people] have any mild symptoms, however mild… they must see a doctor as soon as possible to exclude Covid-19, they must not wait until after the holidays,” Dr Chan told the regular daily Covid press conference.

She said if people must see their family and friends, they should always keep their masks on and avoid having meals together.

The two patients with unknown infection sources live at Kellie Mansion in Tsz Wan Shan and at 286 Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei.

One of them works in a boys and girls club youth service centre in Tsz Wan Shan. She’s a welfare worker who took part in group discussions at the centre, and despite them having their face masks on at all times, dozens of staff, volunteers and participants were sent to quarantine.

That’s because another preliminary positive patient took part in discussions on another day, so the CHP’s Chuang Shuk-kwan said participants might have all been exposed.

Dr Chuang also confirmed that two preliminary positive patients had overstayed beyond their visas. She said the women said they are jobless, and live in subdivided flats in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui.

She said they know two other confirmed patients – one also living in the same building, the other in Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion.

Chuang said reporters will have to ask the Immigration Department as to why they were given “going-out” passes to overstay in Hong Kong.

An RTHK hair stylist has tested preliminary positive for Covid-19, and health authorities are sending people who had their hair done by the patient to quarantine.

The patient – who works at Television House – helps with the production of seven TV programmes, including City Forum and Legco Review.