Hong Kong recorded 30 new COVID-19 cases Monday, the largest single-day jump in more than two months. All of the infections were imported.
The infections include 15 males and 15 females. Except for one who had come back from the Philippines, all of the new cases are returning travelers from Pakistan.
Last month, when authorities recorded 13 new imported cases from Pakistan, Chuang Shuk-kwan, the head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch said the jump was “within expectation because we know the epidemic in Pakistan lately has been getting more serious.”
Today is the ninth consecutive day with no local transmission in Hong Kong.
The double-digit increase is the largest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases since April, when the city’s epidemic peaked. During that month, a surge in imported cases prompted authorities to impose the strictest public health measures Hong Kong has seen in response to the virus, including the ban of gatherings larger than four people and a closure of bars, gyms and salons.
The outbreak in Hong Kong has largely stabilized in recent months. Except for two contained clusters of patients reported in mid-May and earlier this month, the last confirmed instance of local transmission was reported on April 19.
Last Friday, authorities relaxed a ban on gatherings larger than eight people to allow meetings of up to 50.
The regulation on the number of people per room in karaoke lounges, party rooms and gym has also been loosened to permit up to 16 people.
Hong Kong has recorded just over 1,160 COVID-19 cases. Five people have succumbed to the virus, including a 78-year-old woman who died Saturday. She was a neighbor of the first reported case at the Sha Tin housing estate, where nine people have been infected.
