Health officials today confirmed that the master of a Buddhist temple in North Point at the center of a coronavirus infection cluster has tested positive for the illness himself, as has the domestic worker of another previously confirmed case, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the city to 103.
Chuang Shuk-kwan, from the Centre For Health Protection, announced at a daily afternoon press conference that the 43-year-old temple master was asymptomatic when he was taken into quarantine after other cases were reported surrounding the temple, and that a deep-throat saliva test initially yielded a negative result. However, another sample was taken, and today he was confirmed to have COVID-19.
Chuang confirmed that the temple master had visited Sichuan from Jan. 17 to Feb. 10, but because he was asymptomatic, it’s not clear when he contracted the coronavirus.
She also disclosed that a 57-year-old domestic worker employed by two previously confirmed patients has also contracted the virus. Chuang said the woman entered quarantine on Feb. 26, and took two deep-throat saliva tests, the second of which came back positive today.
Like the temple master, she too had been asymptomatic.
In addition to the two confirmed cases, Chuang also announced that the wife of patient 101 and sister-in-law of the Jockey Club member who contracted the virus (and whose dog has since tested “weak positive”) has also tested preliminary positive, and is awaiting further tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Authorities also noted that the dog is still being held at an Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and won’t be released until it tests negative.
