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

The Centre for Health Protection today expressed concern over a possible COVID-19 outbreak in hostels used by foreign domestic helpers.

The centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan gave an update on the whereabouts of the Indonesian foreign domestic helper who was confirmed as having the virus yesterday.

She said further investigations showed that the helper stayed with about 13 other foreign domestic helpers at a boarding house in North Point between July 20 and 21.

The helper then moved to a boarding house in Wan Chai. Among 28 other domestic helpers who stayed with her there, only one left to stay with her employer and the rest remained at the boarding house.

“We were able to track down the names of these foreign domestic helpers, of the 28 foreign domestic helpers, we are arranging them (to undergo) the deep throat saliva test.

“We also got hold of the one who had gone to her new employer (and arranged for her) to get tested.”

Meanwhile, Dr Chuang explained that the case of a patient who preliminarily tested positive for the virus is linked to another Indonesian domestic helper.

The helper finished working for her former employer on June 30 and stayed at a hostel in Sheung Wan with four to six other helpers for a month. She then moved to her new employer’s home on Saturday.

She developed a fever on Wednesday and subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Her new employer’s entire family will be put under quarantine as a result.

Dr Chuang said: “For the other four to six foreign domestic helpers (living together), we are getting hold of them and we will double check whether they (reported) to their new employers or not.”

Dr Chuang expressed concern over the possible spread of the virus among domestic helpers.

“We are worried (about) a possible outbreak in these hostel settings because Singapore has a similar experience and in these hostel settings, they are usually crowded and shared facilities (make it easy) to transmit COVID-19.

“That's why I think the relevant government departments will look into it and see what we can do.”

Additionally, the centre announced that it is investigating 95 new COVID-19 cases, of which 91 are locally transmitted.

Fifty-two cases are related to previous ones and 39 are those with unknown sources of infection.

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