Lan Kwai Fong area emerges as possible virus hotspot

Lan Kwai Fong area emerges as possible virus hotspot

Health authorities in Hong Kong on Thursday said they fear bars and restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong are becoming hotspots for the spreading of the coronavirus, after a person who tested positive had been in the area during the incubation period.



The authorities said two women who tested positive had also told them they had visited the popular entertainment area recently. This comes on top of two other men who told the authorities they had visited a gym run by the Pure Group in the Central area.



On Wednesday, the authorities said a woman who had gone for drinks and dinner in Lan Kwai Fong had tested positive.



Health officials said they are not saying establishments in Lan Kwai Fong are infected, but people gathering together to eat and drink is a high risk activity that can spread the virus.



Officials are investigating whether the virus is being transmitted at bars and restaurants between people who have not been outside Hong Kong recently.



This comes as the city reported 16 new infections. Most of the patients had recently been out of Hong Kong, including places such as Canada, Spain and the UK. One of the patients is a pregnant woman.



In the past two weeks, Hong Kong has reported 88 Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of cases recorded in the city to 208.



Eighty-one patients, or 92 percent of the cases, were people who had been overseas during their incubation period, or were close contacts of people who had travelled.



Among them, only two are non-Hong Kong residents.