Man arrested over call to ‘spread Covid-19’

Police said on Saturday that they had arrested a 32-year-old man suspected of encouraging Covid-19 patients to spread the virus.

Officers said remarks made on an online discussion forum contravened the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance.

Chief Inspector Tai Tsz-bun of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau said the suspect, who works as an electrical repairman, allegedly called on others to oppose the government’s anti-epidemic measures.

Tai said the man was suspected of calling on Covid patients to spread the virus everywhere, including at so-called blue shops – meaning shops whose owners are considered supporters of the government.

He condemned such behaviour as “selfish and irresponsible”, saying it would put public health at risk.

Tai added that preliminary investigations also indicated that the suspect incited others to kill judges on the same online discussion forum last year.

He said the man was being detained and investigations are ongoing.