Boarding house, container port clusters prompt more testing as COVID-19 cases hit 74

August 16, 2020

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection. (Screenshot: ISD)

Increasing numbers of coronavirus cases in a Mong Kok boarding house and a container port in Kwai Chung prompted Hong Kong health officials to heighten mass testing.

On Sunday, the Centre for Health Protection reported 74 new COVID-19 cases in the city. Of the 70 local cases, 34 are from the Kwai Chung container terminal, many of which showed no symptoms.

But 33 of Sunday’s container port cases worked for the same company, Wang Kee Port Operation Service Ltd.

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan of the CHP said the company’s resting room may have contributed to the spread of the virus.

“They have a resting room with some beds, toilets, and showers, and workers share those facilities and sometimes sleep there to rest overnight,” she said.

Chuang said there are 1,000 workers from Wang Kee—including casual employees. About 10 companies operating in the container port also had confirmed cases.

Chuang said 7,000 to 8,000 sample bottles will be sent to test workers in the port.

Health authorities also aim to test saliva samples of residents in Cheung Hing Mansion in Mong Kok, where another Indonesian domestic worker tested positive.

The worker stayed in a boarding facility on the second floor from mid-July up until the end of the month. On Aug. 1, she began working for her new employer—whose family will also be sent to quarantine.

Another case possibly linked to the dormitory has also reportedly tested preliminary positive. Four other domestic workers who lived with the Indonesian worker will also be tested.

Indonesian domestic workers who lived on the ninth floor of Cheung Hing earlier tested positive.

Chuang said the person-in-charge of the boarding facility is now under quarantine. He did not keep records of the helpers staying there, so authorities are trying to trace previous residents of the facility.

Another relative of the person-in-charge tested positive, so his family was also quarantined.

Sunday’s tally brought the city’s total number of coronavirus cases to 4,481. Authorities also reported two new COVID-19-related deaths, pushing up the death toll to 69.