HK reports 6 COVID-19 cases

March 31, 2021

Centre for Health Protection Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan:
Concerning the (patient of the) unlinked case who lives in Kwan Yick Building, we had another unit affected (involving) three cases in mid-March and the building had been tested - all residents, including this case, had been tested. I understand that (the results) were all negative.

There are two possibilities. The first is that this patient had been infected through the building, and (when the restriction-testing declaration for this building was in effect), he was still in the incubation period. He had onset of symptoms on March 29, which was around 12 days later.

The second possibility is that he got the infection from places other than the building. 

We are worried about silent transmissions similar to this case (involving people) who were still in the incubation period during the (compulsory testing) at that time, so we will conduct a site visit to ascertain this.

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

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said it is investigating six additional COVID-19 cases, one of which is locally transmitted with an unknown source of infection.

The centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing this afternoon that the unlinked case involves a 26-year-old man who lives in Block B of Kwan Yick Building Phase 3 in Sai Ying Pun, where a restriction-testing declaration was made on March 17.

She said: "We had another unit affected involving three cases in mid-March and the building had been tested - all residents, including this case, had been tested. I understand that the results were all negative.

"There are two possibilities. The first is that this patient had been infected through the building, and when the restriction-testing declaration for this building was in effect, he was still in the incubation period. He had onset of symptoms on March 29, which was around 12 days later.

"The second possibility is that he got the infection from places other than the building.

"We are worried about silent transmissions similar to this case involving people who were still in the incubation period during the compulsory testing at that time, so we will conduct a site visit to ascertain this."

Dr Chuang added that the building will be subject to compulsory testing again.

Additionally, as the patient had visited several buildings during work, those buildings and his office will also be covered by compulsory testing notices.

Meanwhile, the CHP co-ordinated with related government departments and conducted a site inspection this evening of the concerned floors and units of Block B of Kwan Yick Building Phase 3.

Except the two units with confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health will issue quarantine orders to all asymptomatic residents of units 10 on all floors and transfer them to quarantine centres, while symptomatic residents will be sent to hospital for treatment.

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