Hong Kong reported 113 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, setting yet another record high.
A total of 105 infections are local. 42 have epidemiological links with earlier confirmed cases, over half of which are close contacts with family members or friends who have tested positive.
The linked cases include new additions to a number of restaurant clusters, including at Victoria Harbor Restaurant at Metropark Hotel in Mong Kok and Fulum Restaurant in Tuen Mun.
The number of cases linked to a Mong Kok banquet celebrating Hong Kong’s handover anniversary has increased to 11, with three more attendants of the dinner testing positive today.
Authorities said that 29 patients are in critical condition, and 14 are in serious condition.
As the rest of the world struggled to keep their virus outbreaks under control, Hong Kong was held up as a model for keeping cases low without having to lock down despite the city’s proximity to mainland China.
But now, Hong Kong’s outbreak is the most critical it’s been since the first cases were recorded in January. Since the second week of July, infections have surged exponentially with over 830 cases recorded in the last two weeks.
Some experts blame the spike on quarantine exemptions granted to groups of travelers including cabin crew, cross-border truck drivers and executives from companies listed on local and mainland stock exchanges.
Strict public health measures are currently in place, including a ban on dining in at restaurants after 6pm. Starting tomorrow, mask-wearing will be made mandatory in all indoor public places, including shopping malls, supermarkets and building lobbies.
University of Hong Kong microbiologist Ho Pak-leung urged authorities to continue banning dine-in services during the day, adding that such “draconian measures” are needed to prevent the public health system from breaking down amid the exponential rise in infections.
Further legislation—including a curfew—cannot be ruled out if the outbreak worsens, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said Monday.
To date, 2132 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed in the city. Two deaths were recorded yesterday, bringing the number of virus-related deaths to 14.
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