CHP investigates COVID-19 preliminary positive imported case at Handsome Court in Tuen Mun
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The case involves a 36-year-old female patient who lives at Block 6, Handsome Court in Tuen Mun. She travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on July 12 and returned to Hong Kong on July 19 via Bangkok, Thailand, by flight EK384. Her specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested negative for COVID-19. Her samples on day 3 after her arrival tested preliminarily positive. The test result by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch revealed that the patient carries the L452R mutant strain but does not carry N501Y or E484K mutant genes. The patient has been asymptomatic. The CHP has classified the case as an imported case.
During the past 21 days, the patient had stayed in Hong Kong from June 30 to July 12. As a prudent measure, the Government will make a restriction-testing declaration tonight for the building where the patient resided in Hong Kong (Block 6, Handsome Court in Tuen Mun). Residents of the building will also be subject to compulsory testing on days 3, 7, 12 and 19 counting from the day on which the case is announced.
Moreover, the patient works in Eton Tower, 8 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, and went to work in the period from June 30 to July 11 during the past 21 days. Her workplace and the places she had visited during the incubation period will be included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who had been present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on or before the specified date.
The CHP's investigation reveals that the patient received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination on May 9 and June 5 in Hong Kong (Comirnaty vaccine). Her blood specimen tested positive for anti-spike protein antibody on July 11. An epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.
The CHP strongly urged members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with extremely high risk and very high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H). If travel is unavoidable, the CHP highly recommends the public to be fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines before their departure with a view to lowering their chances of being infected with COVID-19 overseas. They should continue to wear a surgical mask and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Parents are also urged to avoid taking unvaccinated children travelling. The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. Members of the public must seriously evaluate the risk of non-essential travel."
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/Thursday, July 22, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:25
Issued at HKT 19:25
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