London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

81 new Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong; official warns more infections on horizon

81 new Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong; official warns more infections on horizon

Some 78 of the latest cases are locally transmitted, of which 35 are untraceable, while at least 21 infections tied to Yau Tsim Mong district, where several blocks have been locked down.

Hong Kong exceeded 10,000 coronavirus cases on the first anniversary of the pandemic on Saturday after health authorities revealed 81 new infections and warned more were expected to emerge from the Kowloon neighbourhood placed under an unprecedented lockdown.

Officials said 78 of the latest cases were locally transmitted, of which 35 were untraceable. At least 21 infections were tied to Yau Tsim Mong district, where several blocks in Jordan have been sealed off as residents undergo screening. More than 70 people across the city also tested preliminary-positive.

The latest caseload pushed the tally of confirmed infections to 10,009, with 168 related deaths. Hong Kong confirmed its first two cases on January 23 last year, when two arrivals from Wuhan in mainland China were found to be carrying the then-little understood virus.

Authorities hoped all 10,000 residents in the restricted zone in Jordan could be screened by the end of the day. But a leading health official warned to expect a rising trend in the daily caseload over the coming days.

“We are expecting the daily number of [citywide] cases to get at least more and more in these coming few days because of the enhanced testing in the restricted area,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection. “There is also quite significant transmission in the community.”

Authorities moved at 4am to cordon off the area, bordering Kansu Street to the north and Nanking Street in the south, with the eastern and western boundaries at Woosung Street and Battery Street, respectively.

Health officials expressed concern over a small outbreak at the Sheung On Elderly Home on Battery Street, which sits outside the zone, after at least two residents tested positive for the virus. More than 20 residents and six staff members have already been placed into quarantine.

Chuang also noted that an 83-year-old patient who was admitted to Baptist Hospital in Kowloon Tong on January 15 tested positive only upon the third screening, after the first two tests came back negative.

Among the preliminary positive cases was a clerk at the Tuen Mun Eye Centre, who sought treatment on Friday at Tuen Mun Hospital’s accident and emergency department after coming down with a fever. She last reported to work on Friday morning and had rarely been in contact with patients, according to authorities.

A 40-year-old constable posted to the Hong Kong Police College in Wong Chuk Hang also tested preliminary-positive. The officer, who was last on duty on Tuesday and had no contact with the public, underwent a test after a relative was suspected of carrying the virus.

Residents of six more buildings will be required to undergo compulsory screening. The order will be given to Moonstar Court in Wan Chai, Yick Man Building in To Kwa Wan and Shun Fung Building in Yau Ma Tei after at least two infections in each emerged.

Mandatory screening will also be ordered at three buildings within an area in the Sham Shui Po district already under a stricter threshold whereby just a single case triggers testing. They are 126-128 Fuk Wing Street/96-98 Yen Chow Street, 25-27 Un Chau Street and 171 Cheung Sha Wan Road.

Chuang apologised for a “mix-up” on Friday that led to residents of Block 3 at The Grandiose private residential estate in Tseung Kwan O being ordered to undergo testing. While two cases had indeed emerged, they were split between Block 2 and 3.

The government was weighing whether to place the United Arab Emirates on the list of high-risk nations where the pandemic situation was deemed especially worrisome, she said, adding: “I understand this is being considered by the Food and Health Bureau.”

While the government allowed Emirates to resume flights between Hong Kong and Dubai on Saturday after a two-week ban expired, putting the UAE on the list would mean arrivals would be required to present a negative Covid-19 test before boarding.

Dubai is a popular 21-day transit point for travellers coming from Britain who are unable to fly non-stop to Hong Kong given a ban on flights originating in the European country.

Chuang also said residents had come a long way in the year since the virus first emerged in Hong Kong.

“Many unprecedented measures have been rolled out over the past year, such as flight bans and closing border control points. Everyone is learning from the experiences,” she said. “I think Hong Kong people have always been very self-disciplined, in terms of wearing masks and other [social-distancing measures].”

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×