Hong Kong - More than 240 guests held in quarantine for a week at the Hong Kong hotel where East Asia's first case of swine flu stayed were preparing for their release Friday afternoon. The guests, who have been confined to the Metropark Hotel for seven days, were to be finally allowed to check out Friday evening after passing health checks by Hong Kong government doctors.
They have been locked in the hotel since May 1 when a fellow guest, a Mexican tourist, was confirmed to have the H1N1 flu virus.
In preparation for their departure, the Hong Kong government has closed the roads around the hotel. Around 100 hotel staff who have also been quarantined will be allowed home as well.
On Thursday night, some of the guests held a party in the lobby to celebrate their impending release and posted footage on YouTube showing them dancing, raising glasses and laughing.
The footage also featured a Korean businessman, who earlier in the week made headlines for his angry rant broadcast on radio and on YouTube over the possible loss of a multi-billion-dollar contract while he was in quarantine.
By way of contrast, on the footage of the party, he is seen laughing and passing out drinks and dancing with a tall attractive blonde as policemen wearing masks stand by.
Among the group celebrating Thursday was Indian national, Kevin Ireland, 45, from New Delhi who was in Hong Kong to attend a trade fair when he was quarantined.
"We are all relieved and glad to be in sight of our release or eviction, or whatever you wish to call it," Ireland told the German Press Agency
