Patrons enjoy a drink at a bar in Lan Kwai Fong where bars reopen as the government further relaxes social distancing rules on May 19, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 270 new COVID 19 cases on Saturday as health authorities investigated an outbreak at a bar in Central district affecting at least 11 patrons.

Albert Au, Principal Medical and Health Officer of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said at a press briefing that the new cases comprised 31 imported infections and 239 local cases, bringing the tally to 1,199,227.

He added that 116 infections were confirmed through nucleic acid testing and 154 by rapid antigen tests.

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The imported cases came from the US, Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Pakistan and India.

Zentral Club in Central district will be added to the compulsory testing notice and anyone who visited the bar between 11 pm on May 21 and 5 am on May 22 will have to receive COVID-19 testing

Au also said that 11 patrons of bar Zentral Club located on the fourth floor of California Tower on 32 D'Aguilar Street were confirmed infected.

“According to the records of their LeaveHomeSafe app, they visited the bar between 11 pm on May 21 and 5 am on May 22,” Au said.

The six men and women, aged 17 to 29, sat at different tables and all showed mild symptoms between May 20 and May 26. They have been vaccinated for at least two doses, Au added.

The place will be added to the compulsory testing notice and anyone who visited the bar during the same time will have to receive compulsory COVID-19 testing.

One of the patrons is a 23-year-old basketball coach who taught a training session at Pok Oi Hospital Tang Pui King Memorial College on May 24. Among the 30 students from 24 classses who attended the session, six have tested positive, Au said.

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“The 30 students, along with their close contacts, will need to undergo home quarantine,” Au added.

Larry Lee Lap-yip, chief manager (Integrated Clinical Services) of the Hospital Authority, said at the briefing that a 77-year-old man infected with COVID-19 passed away in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll during the fifth wave of COVID-19 to 9,163.