Unlinked Covid cases hit another new high

Fresh untraceable Covid-19 cases have again hit a new high since the fifth wave of infections struck Hong Kong, with health officials reporting 31 local cases of unknown origin on Thursday.

The patients live in districts across the SAR, including North Point, Sheung Shui, Lam Tin and Sham Shui Po.

In total, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) confirmed 142 new Covid infections on Thursday, 121 of them locally transmitted.

Around 160 people also tested preliminary positive for the coronavirus.

At a press briefing, the CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan was asked whether social distancing measures needed to be further tightened in light of the increasing number of unlinked cases.

“For the untraceable cases, we have observed an increasing trend. This is not a good sign. It signifies there’s quite severe community transmission at the moment,” Chuang said.

“I understand the government is closely monitoring the situation and will announce further measures as appropriate.”

Chuang again urged the public to avoid gatherings and stay at home as much as possible, noting that family clusters are appearing after reunion meals.

Among the confirmed cases on Thursday was another member of staff at the Lam Woo Home for the Elderly in Kwai Chung, who works in a different area from a previously infected carer.

This new infection means that about 60 more elderly residents will have to be quarantined, on top of the 80 or so who are already undergoing quarantine due to the previous case.

Health authorities also suspect the virus may have spread vertically at a block at Shui Pin Wai Estate, in Yuen Long, after two cases emerged there.

Officials will inspect Bik Shui House and some residents may have to be evacuated.

Long queues were seen outside Covid-19 testing centres in Sha Tin after the government found positive sewage samples in the Shing Mun river – and imposed testing orders on many residents there.

Some people were concerned about the risk of cross-infection but Chuang defended the arrangement. She said such targeted testing was an efficient method of confirming high-risk areas.