HONG KONG (Reuters). Hong Kong authorities launched a search across the city for COVID-19 patients’ contacts on Wednesday. They ordered a Royal Caribbean (NYSE) The ship “cruise To Nowhere” was forced to leave port before the deadline because health officials were concerned about a fifth outbreak of Infections.

Local media were told by a COVID-19 advisor from the government that there could be up to 10 invisible transmission links in their community. He, along with two expert advisers, urged government officials to increase restrictions.

By isolating itself from other countries and using a costly and strict quarantine system, the global financial hub adheres to a zero Covid strategy.

The first Omicron variant was transmitted locally on Dec. 31 ending a three-month streak without any community cases.

Authorities have been working hard to find and screen hundreds of Omicron-related contacts since then.

In a statement, the government announced that they will take all necessary anti-epidemic steps to keep mutant strains of bacteria from spreading.

A patient, who had been dancing in central Park with 20 other friends on New Years Eve, sparked the latest hunt. Preliminary tests revealed that two of the dancers were positive, and one was a domestic worker.

On Jan. 2, the helper, her employer, and eight of her closest contacts went on a cruise trip.

Hong Kong has imposed coronavirus restrictions on cruises. It limits them to trips in the nearby waterways. The ships are required to have fewer passengers and operate at a reduced speed.

Around 2,500 passengers were aboard the ship “Spectrum of the Seas”, while 1,200 crew members were also on board. Officials said that nine of their close contacts were separated from other passengers and that initial tests during the journey had returned negative results.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement that “Spectrum of the Seas has taken appropriate steps under the guidelines of the Department of Health.”

The government stated that the nine closest contact will be transferred to a quarantine center, and the other passengers and staff would have to take several tests within the coming days.

In a separate statement, the government stated that people who visited dozens of locations in Hong Kong at the same time with close friends of patients recently have received compulsory testing notices.

These venues include central Victoria Park, M+ Modern Art Museum, ferry piers as well as restaurants, shops, clinics, and other locations.

Gabriel Leung from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), was a dean of medicine at HKU and a government adviser. He said that “five to ten invisible transmission chain” were likely in the area.

“There’s no time to waste,” Leung said. Circuit-breaker measures are needed.

Yuen Kwokyung and Ivan Hung were two other advisors who suggested that officials consider closing down schools and limiting restaurant hours. Local media reported.