The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 9) said that it is investigating four preliminary positive imported cases of COVID-19. In view of the high viral load of one of the patients, the CHP strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements relating to the cases and finish the tests.
A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that amid the severe pandemic situation across the world, the Government strives to protect public health, and the various anti-epidemic measures to prevent the importation of cases and the spreading of the virus in the community should be kept up.
The first two cases involve two male patients aged 29 and 57, who live at Harbour Pinnacle in Tsim Sha Tsui and a house in Headland Village, Discovery Bay respectively. They are cargo flight crew members of the same airline. Both tested negative on October 26 and 29 respectively. They left Hong Kong on October 31 for Germany and returned to Hong Kong on November 6 by the same flight (CX2066) from Germany. Their specimens collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested negative for COVID-19.
They underwent compulsory testing in accordance with the relevant requirements for exempted persons. Their samples collected yesterday (November 8) at a community testing centre (Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre) and a mobile specimen collection station (Tung Chung North Park) tested preliminary positive for COVID-19, with Ct values 13 to 16 and 31 to 34. Their specimens carried the L452R mutant strain (but were negative for the N501Y and E484K strains).
The 29-year-old patient, who was symptomatic since November 8, received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on April 12 and May 18 in Hong Kong, while the asymptomatic 57-year-old patient received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on April 13 and May 4 in Hong Kong.
Due to presence of mutant strain with higher transmissibility and risk of infection, the Government has made a "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the building where the 29-year-old patient resided in Hong Kong (Harbour Pinnacle in Tsim Sha Tsui). Meanwhile, the residents at the house where the 57-year-old patient resided had been arranged to undergo quarantine. The places where the two patients had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice.
Another case involves a 30-year-old female patient who is a foreign domestic helper. She arrived in Hong Kong on October 17 from the Philippines by flight CX906. The results of the six tests conducted during the compulsory quarantine period at the designated quarantine facility (Silka Tsuen Wan Hotel) were all negative. Upon completion of the compulsory quarantine on November 7, she stayed at Rosedale Hotel in Causeway Bay. She underwent another test on November 8 and the test result was positive but with low viral load (Ct value larger than 30). She received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Moderna) on July 6 and August 3 in the Philippines.
The remaining case involves a 15-year-old female patient. She arrived in Hong Kong on October 14 from Italy via Qatar by flight QR818. The results of the six tests conducted during the compulsory quarantine period were all negative. Upon completion of the compulsory quarantine on November 4, she stayed at Gateway Hotel, Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui. She underwent test on November 8 at Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre and the test result was positive with Ct value 27 to 29.
The possibilities of these two cases being re-positive cases cannot be excluded at the moment. The CHP will monitor further testing results after admission. As a prudent measure, the places where the two female patients resided and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will 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 or before the specified date.
Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the four cases 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).
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