CHP investigates COVID-19 preliminary positive imported case at Jovial Court in Discovery Bay
***************************************************************

     ​The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (November 21) said that it is investigating a preliminary positive imported case of COVID-19 involving the L452R mutant strain.

     The case involves a 23-year-old male patient. He departed Hong Kong on November 14 for the US after he tested negative for COVID-19 on November 13. He arrived in Hong Kong on November 20 from the US by flight CX521 and his specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested positive for COVID-19. The patient is symptomatic. His Ct value is less than 30 and his specimen carried the L452R mutant strain (but was negative for the N501Y and E484K strains). He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on April 27 and May 18 in Hong Kong. 

     As the patient had stayed in Hong Kong during the incubation period and due to the presence of a mutant strain with higher transmissibility and risk of infection, the Government has adopted a prudent measure and will make a "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the building where the patient resided in Hong Kong (Jovial Court, Peninsula Village, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island). The places where he had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.

     Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.

     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, November 21, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:25

NNNN