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Coronavirus pandemic
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Coronavirus: Hong Kong health minister promises HK$5,000 handouts for low-income residents who test positive

  • Sophia Chan says subsidy is aimed at reassuring people concerned about loss of earnings while in quarantine
  • Announcement comes as city reports 68 new cases while cluster at dance clubs expands to 80 infections

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The daily tally of new coronavirus infections will continue to rise in the coming days, warns Hong Kong’s health secretary. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Zoe LowandTony Cheung
Hong Kong will give HK$5,000 (US$645) to poorer residents who test positive for the coronavirus, the health minister has revealed, as an outbreak tied to dance clubs across the city ballooned into the second-largest cluster since the pandemic began.
Authorities hope the one-off handout will convince any infected residents who fear losing pay due to quarantining to come forward, helping to break silent transmission chains in the community. The step is part of the government’s strategy to combat a rapidly escalating fourth wave of the coronavirus, which has pushed the daily number of new cases from a low of four cases last week to 68 on Sunday.

In a worrying development, 46 of the latest infections were tied to the dance club cluster, taking its total to 80. Health authorities admit containing that outbreak will be difficult and have for the first time ordered mandatory testing, requiring everyone who has visited the venues since the start of the month to be screened.

Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee said applicants to the subsidy programme would not be means-tested.

“We hope this subsidy can encourage low-income residents who may be worried about losing their salaries if they have to be quarantined because they are infected to come forward and get tested,” she said. “The main recipients will be people who have tested positive and have a need for the subsidy.”

Jonathan Ho Kai-ming, undersecretary for labour and welfare, called on residents to treat the scheme with respect.

“Based on the number of infections now, I think the expense will not be too big,” he said. “I don’t think people will abuse the measure to get the money. I hope people will treat this seriously and not play around with it.”

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