Hong Kong fourth wave: health official admits to quarantine delays as 70 Covid-19 cases confirmed, with medical staff among possible infected
- Evacuation orders of housing estates may be preventing timely admission of other residents into quarantine, health official says
- Three medical workers test preliminary-positive after joining family gathering, while Canada added to list of high-risk nations
Large-scale evacuations of coronavirus-stricken housing estates may be delaying the quarantining of other residents in Hong Kong, a senior health official has said.
The delay was the latest sign of the strain the fourth wave of the pandemic is putting on health resources, although the number of new cases on Friday fell to a six-day low of 70, six of which were imported.
A new cluster emerged involving 10 confirmed infections at a singing school in San Po Kong, while three medical workers who attended a family gathering tested preliminary-positive, prompting authorities to warn hospital staff to avoid social activities during the holiday season.
The government also announced Canada had become the 20th addition to the list of countries deemed high risk for Covid-19. Arrivals from the nation must show proof of a negative coronavirus test before departure and quarantine in a hotel after landing.
