Hong Kong locks down thousands for compulsory Covid-19 testing

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Hong Kong’s government has locked down an area of Kowloon peninsula, saying its 10,000 residents must stay home until all of them have been tested for the new coronavirus and results largely determined.

The government said there are 70 buildings in the “restricted area” of Jordan and that it aims to finish the process within about 48 hours, so that people can start getting to work on Monday.

“The infection risk in the community is quite high,” health secretary Sophia Chan told a news conference. “After assessment, we think it’s necessary to make a restriction-testing declaration in the restricted area to achieve the goal of zero cases.”

The restricted area has confirmed 162 confirmed cases of Covid-19 this month, and the ratio of virus detected in sewage samples from buildings there was higher than that of other areas.

Government investigators wearing protective suits, gather in the Yau Ma Tei area, in Hong Kong on Saturday. — AP
Government investigators wearing protective suits, gather in the Yau Ma Tei area, in Hong Kong on Saturday. — AP

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