HONG KONG (AP) — Thousands of Hong Kong residents were locked down Saturday in an unprecedented move to
contain a worsening outbreak in the city, authorities said.
Hong Kong has been grappling to contain a fresh wave of the coronavirus since November. Over 4,300 cases
have been recorded in the last two months, making up nearly 40% of the city’s total.
Coronavirus cases in Hong Kong’s Yau Tsim Mong district – a working-class neighborhood with old buildings
and subdivided flats – made up about half of the infections in the past week.
Sewage testing in the area picked up more concentrated traces of the COVID-19 virus, prompting concerns
that poorly built plumbing systems and a lack of ventilation in subdivided units may present a possible
path for the virus to spread.
Authorities said in a statement Saturday that an area comprising 16 buildings in Yau Tsim Mong will be
locked down until all residents have undergone tests. Residents will not be allowed to leave their homes
until they have received their test results to prevent cross-infection.
"Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons
identified in the area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained," the
government said in a statement.
Hong Kong has previously avoided lockdowns in the city during the pandemic, with leader Carrie Lam
stating in July last year that authorities will avoid taking such "extreme measures" unless it
had no other choice.
The restrictions, which were announced at 4 a.m. in Hong Kong, are expected to end within 48 hours, the
government said.
It appealed to employers to exercise discretion and avoid docking the salary of employees who have been
affected by the restrictions and may not be able to go to work.
Hong Kong has seen a total of 9,929 infections in the city, with 168 deaths recorded as of Friday.