TSING YI | HONG KONG - The Health Protection Center (CHP) of the Hong Kong Ministry of Health, on Tuesday (11/2/2020) in the morning, evacuated several households occupants of one of the apartment blocks in Tsing Yi. This was done, as reported by the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), after two people were diagnosed positive for the Wuhan Corona virus there, which indicates a mass infection.
Two cases have been registered at the Hong Mei House on Cheung Hong Estate. Hong Kong's 12th virus case involves occupants of the building and the new case identified on Monday is a woman who lives in a flat 10 floors directly below the previous patient's flat.
Only people living in the flat with the same number were evacuated. Namely, flat number seven. The building itself has 35 floors with flats from the second floor.
CHP control officer Wong Ka-hing said the evacuation carried out was simply "a precautionary measure for the safety of citizens", as it was not clear how the virus spread.
"It can still be regular drip transmission or contact transmission, but there are environmental factors, which somehow occur, because they live in the same building," said Wong. “We cannot exclude this possibility. For the safety of the residents, we want to evacuate them first, "he added.
42 Cases in Hong Kong
So far, there have been 42 positive cases of the Corona virus in Hong Kong. The latest case, the 42nd, is one of six new cases diagnosed as of Monday. The patient's son and daughter-in-law are also showing symptoms and have been placed in isolation. Meanwhile, her husband and grandchildren, who have no symptoms, will be quarantined.
Due to indications of a mass spread within the community, starting Tuesday, engineers from the Hong Kong Housing Department will investigate the sewage system in the building where the patients live. [DDHKNews]
Main photo source: RTHK from Shutterstock
