2 domestic workers among 9 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily tally since July

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection. (Screenshot: ISD.GOV.HK)

Two domestic workers make up Hong Kong’s nine new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases Monday, the first single-digit tally since early July.

One domestic worker was an imported case. The Filipino migrant worker flew in on Aug. 13 and tested positive on the second sample.  She is among the two imported cases—the other one is a student who returned from Switzerland on Aug. 23.

But Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan was quick to warn that there are 12 preliminary cases, and four of the local cases have unknown sources of infection. One of the four is a domestic helper living with her employer in Kings Road in Hong Kong Island.

“In the public health point of view, any relaxing of social distancing measures may result in the increase in the number of cases,” she said.

Chuang said the universal community testing slated to begin Sept. 1 will be helpful in identify silent carriers of coronavirus within the city. She added measures to stop cross infections during mass testing will be implemented.

Domestic workers set to begin with new employers were urged to get tested for COVID-19 for free starting Aug. 25. They have been a population of concern after at least 19 domestic workers staying in boarding facilities got infected.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam called the cluster of infections “worrying,” prompting the government to enforce stricter measures against domestic workers’ movement in these facilities.