HK records 73 Covid-19 cases, with situation 'worsening rapidly'

Hong Kong

HONG Kong reported 73 new coronavirus cases on Monday as the government warned the epidemic in the densely populated city is rapidly worsening with silent transmission chains feared amid a rise in asymptomatic infections.

The Chinese-ruled city has so far managed to avoid the widespread outbreak of the disease seen in many major cities across the world, with numbers on a daily basis mostly in single digits or low double digits in recent weeks.

The 73 cases on Monday was the highest daily figure in about three months, including 50 linked to a "super-spreading" dance clubs cluster.

Eight of the new infections were untraceable, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, the head of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch.

The government has appealed to residents in affected areas to take a Covid-19 test to help contain the outbreak. Mobile testing stations have been set up in several districts.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

To encourage people to take virus tests, the government plans to offer a payment of HK$5,000 (S$864.6) to anyone who tests positive for the virus.

"The local epidemic situation is worsening rapidly," the government said in a statement. "Some of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and this has indicated the existence of many silent transmission chains in the community."

The jump in cases has caused the air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, which was due to have been launched on Sunday, to be postponed for two weeks.

Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific were due to fly a return trip each on Sunday and then three or four trips a week before starting daily services next month. Passenger numbers were to be limited to 200 per flight.

Hong Kong has recorded a total of 5,702 Covid-19 cases and 108 deaths since the pandemic began.

The government started to ease restrictions on dining, sports facilities and theme parks in September after a mass testing programme organised by the Chinese government. REUTERS