130 HK police to be quarantined after colleagues infected with COVID-19

HONG KONG: About 130 of Hong Kong´s frontline riot police officers will be sent to quarantine camp after two of their colleagues were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus, a police source told AFP late on Saturday.

A 46-year-old sergeant, stationed in the city´s Kowloon West region, was confirmed to be infected early on the same day. He was deployed in a crowd control operation during a protest on Tuesday.

Another officer, 31, from the same police tactical unit was also infected to COVID-19 last Sunday after going to a bar, which was linked to a cluster infection. A police source said that the shared facilities in the regional police base are believed to be the source of infection.

After investigation, the city´s health department decided to send around 130 male officers, who had possibly used the barracks toilet, to quarantine camp for 14 days, according to the source.

"Regarding testing for COVID-19, all officers are highly recommended to receive a test at hospital, government hospital or private doctor at their nearby home," the source added.