10 COVID-19 cases detected

March 24, 2021

Centre for Health Protection Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan:

(The COVID-19 patient with an unknown source of infection) had onset of muscle pain on March 17 and he was still working until March 23.

During this period, he had sent goods and assembled furniture in quite a number of places and (at) many of those places, he and his colleagues stayed (there) for more than 15 minutes.

Although all of them claimed to have worn masks during the delivery and assembling of the furniture, these are home settings (where) usually the space is not very big. We are afraid that if he was (in the communicable period), even if he wore masks, there was still a risk of (virus) transmission to the people who came into contact with him when staying in the same flats for a period of time. 

So we will quarantine those who stayed in the flats during the period he (stayed). Around 10 or more members of the public who received the goods from him will be put under quarantine.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10 additional COVID-19 cases, of which four are locally transmitted including one with an unknown source of infection.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said the unlinked case involves a 55-year-old furniture delivery man.

She said the patient developed muscle pain on March 17 and continued to work until yesterday.

“During this period, he had sent goods and assembled furniture in quite a number of places and at many of those places, he and his colleagues stayed there for more than 15 minutes.

“Although all of them claimed to have worn masks during the delivery and assembling of the furniture, these are home settings where usually the space is not very big.

“We are afraid that if he was in the communicable period, even if he wore masks, there was still a risk of virus transmission to the people who came into contact with him when staying in the same flats for a period of time.”

About 10 households involving more than 10 people, together with the company’s staff and a family member who works with the patient have to be quarantined, Dr Chuang added.

The remaining three local cases are linked to other cases, including a close contact of an URSUS Fitness customer.

A police officer who works at the Kowloon West Regional Headquarters and a staff member of Polytechnic University’s Pao Yue-kong Library have also tested positive for the virus.

The patients' workplaces and residences are now covered by compulsory testing notices. The Government will also set up a mobile specimen collection station at Fullview Garden in Chai Wan on March 25.

Among the six imported cases, one arrived from Pakistan and five flew in from Delhi, India on an Air India flight on March 22. The Department of Health invoked the relevant regulation to prohibit the landing of passenger flights from Delhi operated by Air India until April 6.

There are less than 10 preliminary positive cases consisting mainly of imported and linked cases.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.