Skip to main content

Featured

Feb exports value down 0.8%

The value of Hong Kong’s total exports decreased to $284.1 billion in February, down 0.8% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.   The value of imports of goods fell 1.8% to $325.7 billion for the same period.   A trade deficit of $41.7 billion, or 12.8% of the value of imports, was recorded in February.   Comparing the three-month period ending February with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of exports rose 5.5%, while that of imports also increased 3.3%.   The Government noted that taking the first two months of the year together to remove the volatility caused by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year, the value of exports posted a 16.6% growth against a very low base of comparison a year ago.   Exports to the Mainland and the US rose notably, while those to the European Union fell. Those to other major Asian markets recorded a mixed performance.   Looking ahead, the Gove

11 COVID-19 cases reported

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)   The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 11 additional COVID-19 cases, of which three are locally transmitted including one with an unknown source of infection.   At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said the unlinked case involves a 38-year-old woman who works for an airline as cabin crew.   “However, she has not worked since November last year and she has all along stayed in Hong Kong.”   Dr Au noted that the patient visited a fitness centre in North Point several times during her incubation and communicable period, so the gym has been advised to close for 14 days and get its staff and customers tested for COVID-19.   “During our epidemiological investigations we found that she attended the gym GO24 Fitness in North Point multiple times during the incubation period and also during her communicable period. According to the information collected, she mainly attended some pilates and yoga classes when she attended the gym.   “So we, as a prudent measure, have classified all the classmates who attended the same class with this case and the instructors as close contacts and arranged them to be quarantined, so that if there is any spread of the virus the secondary cases can be detected as early as possible.   “According to the information collected, she wore a mask in the gym. As far as I understand, the Government has issued some guidance for fitness centres and gyms, so they need to have adequate infection prevention and control measures, for example, social distancing, disinfection and ventilation requirements.   “After receiving notification of this case, we have advised the gym to close for 14 days. We have also advised all the staff and clients who have attended this gym to undergo testing.   “The majority of them will receive the notification or message for testing. I think they will be tested within these two days, so we need to observe if there are other cases arising from this gym.”   He added that the centre would observe if any more cases emerge from GO24 Fitness.   “If there are further cases, then that means there is an outbreak and we will implement more stringent measures, for example, requiring all the attendees to be quarantined just like for the URSUS Fitness cluster.”   Meanwhile, two buildings including the one where the infected woman lives are covered by a compulsory testing notice.   The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Fu Sau House of Tai Wo Hau Estate tomorrow, while the service period of the stations in some districts will be extended.   For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
http://dlvr.it/RwQv82

Popular Posts