Two more Indonesian domestic workers among HK’s 18 new COVID-19 cases

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.

Two more Indonesian domestic workers who stayed in boarding facilities tested positive for coronavirus, comprising Hong Kong’s 18 new cases Thursday.

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said both were confirmed under quarantine.

One earlier resided in a shelter in Cheung Hing Mansion in Mong Kok until Aug. 15. The other stayed in her employment agency’s dormitory in Tsuen Wan. Both places previously hosted infected individuals.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday raised concern over the growing cluster in these boarding facilities, as well as the cluster of workers from the Kwai Tsing container port.

Three more cases were from the Wang Kee Port Operation Services firm in the port. Over 60 have been confirmed infected there last week after using the same worker’s resting room.

Chuang said 3,700 of 8,000 workers in the port have been tested as of Wednesday night as a precaution.

Thursday’s daily tally is the lowest in six weeks, but Chuang said Typhoon Higos battering Hong Kong may have affected the count. She said Signal No. 8 may have delayed the turnover of bottles to the laboratory and fewer samples were tested.

A 92-year old female is the latest COVID-19 casualty, pushing the death toll to 73.