CHP investigates seven additional confirmed cases of COVID-19
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The newly reported cases are imported cases which involved mutant strains. The patients comprise four males and three females, aged 30 to 57. Six of them arrived in Hong Kong from Group A specified places (high-risk) and one from a then (day of arrival) Group B specified place (medium-risk). Four patients tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at Hong Kong International Airport; two tested positive during quarantine at designated quarantine hotels; and one tested positive during quarantine at the designated quarantine facility (Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre).
Among the above-mentioned cases, case 12482 involves a 39-year-old male patient, who lives at a house on Shouson Hill Road in Shouson Hill. He departed Hong Kong on November 22 for Denmark first, after he tested negative for COVID-19 on November 20. He arrived in Hong Kong on December 5 from Germany afterwards by flight VS206 via the United Kingdom, and his specimen collected upon arrival in the TSCC tested negative for COVID-19. His sample on day 3 (December 7) in a designated quarantine hotel tested positive. He developed symptoms on December 7 with Ct value below 30 and his specimen carried the L452R mutant strain (but was negative for the N501Y and E484K strains). The places where he visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice (CTN).
Case 12483 involves another 39-year-old male patient, who lives at Po Shan Mansion in Taikoo Shing. He departed Hong Kong on November 20 for the Czech Republic via Germany, after he tested negative for COVID-19 on November 19. He arrived in Hong Kong on November 29 from the Czech Republic by flight LH796 via Germany, and his specimen collected upon arrival in the TSCC tested negative for COVID-19. His sample on day 9 (December 7) in a designated quarantine hotel tested positive. He was asymptomatic with Ct value below 30 and his specimen carried the L452R mutant strain (but was negative for the N501Y and E484K strains). He works in Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, and last went to work on November 17. The places where he resided and visited and related to his work in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a CTN.
A total of 60 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (November 25 to December 8) and all of them are imported cases.
Also, as a passenger flight (AI1314) operated by Air India arriving in Hong Kong from Delhi, India, on December 5 had one passenger confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival testing, and one passenger who failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H), the DH thus invoked Cap. 599H to prohibit the landing of passenger flights from Delhi operated by Air India in Hong Kong from December 9 to 22.
According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).
Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow (December 10):
- The Kimberley Hotel, 28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
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. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."
Ends/Thursday, December 9, 2021
Issued at HKT 14:15
Issued at HKT 14:15
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