A super-spreading COVID-19 cluster at a gym popular with expatriates in Hong Kong has forced 240 people into government quarantine centers, accounting for the bulk of new infections Thursday.
A 27-year-old coach at Ursus Fitness in Sai Ying Pun tested positive for the virus Wednesday.
International schools, other gyms and investment banks across Hong Kong make up the bulk of the latest cluster, which has resulted in 17 cases so far and another 30 preliminary positive tests.
Gym-goers in Hong Kong will be required to wear a mask from Friday onwards, even when not in group classes, for the next six days.
"In view of the recent large-scale cluster outbreak in fitness centers, we need to tighten the infection control measures in fitness centers with immediate effect in order to contain the epidemic," said a spokesperson for the Bureau of Food and Health Friday.
At the offices of HSBC, Societe Generale, Credit Suisse and other banks, employees are being asked to take tests, while nearby Chater House office tower in Hong Kong's central business district reported two cases Tuesday and Wednesday.
At least five schools ended in-person teaching again this week citing the gym cluster and have ordered compulsory testing for teachers and students who may have come into contact with Ursus Fitness members.
A fourth recent recipient of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine died Thursday, while another person to get the jab collapsed.
The 70-year-old woman passed away nine days after being vaccinated, and had a pre-existing condition like the first two deaths with possible ties to the vaccine.
Nearly 146,000 people have been vaccinated to date according to the government, with roughly 70% take up so far.
This is expected to increase now that the Pfizer-BioNTech jab started distribution Wednesday, with more than 10,000 people opting for the new vaccine in the past two days.
Hong Kong has recorded 11,128 infections and 203 deaths since the pandemic started in late 2019.
