Police, other gov’t forces to help in Covid-19 contact-tracing as 33 new cases logged

January 7, 2021

Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan, Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr. Chui Tak-yi, and Hospital Authority Chief Manager Dr. Linda Yu at the regular coronavirus press briefing on Thursday.

Around 100 disciplinary officers will help health authorities in their enhanced strategy to trace close contacts of Covid-19 cases, as Hong Kong confirmed 33 new infections on Thursday.

The Centre for Health Protection said they will help man the new command centre in Kai Tak Community Hall in Kowloon East set to begin operations on Monday.

Dr. Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said they will train police officers, Immigration Department officials, and Customs and Excise Department personnel.

Chuang said the disciplinary officers will track the close contacts primarily through phone calls. But if they cannot be reached via phone, the officers will visit their homes in full protective gear.

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Four of the new Covid-19 cases recorded today were imported, including three returnees from Pakistan and one from Nepal.

Five of the 29 local cases had unknown sources of infection, while there are over 30 people who tested preliminarily positive for Covid-19.

The cluster at the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin tunnel grew after another 11 cases were confirmed today—two workers from the site and nine close contacts of previous cases.

Thursday’s tally brought the city’s number of confirmed Covid-19 cases to 9,108.

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