47 COVID-19 cases detected

March 13, 2021

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

 

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 47 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 43 are locally transmitted and four are imported.

 

Among the local cases, four have unknown sources of infection while 35 are linked to URSUS Fitness in Sai Ying Pun.

 

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said that more than 10 cases have preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. Among them, six are unlinked cases, including a kindergarten student and a primary school student.

 

Dr Chuang also explained how the centre handles a situation where COVID-19 cases are detected at schools.

 

“Usually if the children are younger, the compliance for wearing masks may not be good, so for the students of kindergartens and childcare centres or pre-schools, playgroups, etc, if they have confirmed cases, we may have to put some of the students under compulsory quarantine.

 

“For those older children, if they can wear masks without close-contact activities, we'll ask them to undergo testing.”

 

Dr Chuang pointed out that the centre did not issue a quarantine order for students of Kellett School.

 

“We have discussed whether to quarantine the students or issue a compulsory testing notice for them because their ages are borderline - nine or 10.

 

“After clarification, we understand that they wore masks during classes and there were not many social activities, only teaching by teachers. We have not placed them under quarantine but asked them to get tested instead.”

 

Meanwhile, 64 places with one or more confirmed cases or sewage samples tested positive are now covered by compulsory testing notices.

 

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at 10 locations on March 14, while those at Carpark of Quarry Bay Community Hall, Li Sing Street Playground, Kennedy Town Playground, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground and Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall will extend their services.

 

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

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