The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 23) announced that it is following up on a preliminary positive case of COVID-19 with the preliminary test result involving N501Y mutant strain.
      
     The preliminary positive case involves a 46-year-old female Filipino who is a domestic helper. She travelled to Pakistan with her ex-employer's family in early February this year and returned to Hong Kong from Pakistan on April 3. She then underwent quarantine at Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun from April 3 to 23. Upon completion of quarantine, she had temporarily stayed in the flat of her ex-employer at 31 Tai Wong Ha Resite Village between April 24 and 29, before moving to live in Tower 6 of Island Harbourview in Tai Kok Tsui where her prospective employer resides at.
      
     She underwent testings at community testing centre on April 28 and May 7 and both tested negative. In accordance with the requirements of compulsory testing notice, she underwent another testing at the community testing centre in Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre on May 22 and the result was preliminary positive. The preliminary test result by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch revealed that the patient carries N501Y mutant strain but does not carry E484K or L452R mutant genes. The patient has been asymptomatic.
      
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the above preliminary positive case are ongoing. The CHP has arranged to transfer the close contacts of the patient to quarantine centre.
      
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "The CHP has announced earlier that for N501Y case with unknown source, a 'restriction-testing declaration' would be made towards the building on the day when a preliminary positive or confirmation result is returned. Household contacts and people living in the same subdivided unit as the confirmed case will be subject to 21 days quarantine. Besides, all residents in the building would be subject to compulsory testing on Days 3, 7, 12 and 19 counting from the day on which the confirmed case left the building. Moreover, in case further cases are detected in the same building, all residents of the building would be classified as close contacts and placed under quarantine for 21 days as there would be evidence of transmission."
      
     The Government has today exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" in Tower 6 of Island Harbourview. The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. 
      
     The spokesman also urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk, to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons. Moreover, the Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

Ends/Sunday, May 23, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:20

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