The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 8, no new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had been recorded, and that the number of cases in Hong Kong remained at 12 472 so far (comprising 12 471 confirmed cases and one probable case).
A total of 61 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (November 24 to December 7) and all of them are imported cases.
Meanwhile, the CHP is investigating a suspected re-positive overseas case which involves a 61-year-old male patient who lives at the Kimberley Hotel, 28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. He arrived in Hong Kong on November 16 from Ghana by flight QR818 via Qatar. The specimen collected upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport was negative for COVID-19. The results of four tests conducted during the compulsory quarantine period at a designated quarantine hotel (Silka Far East Hotel Hong Kong, Tsuen Wan) were also negative. The patient has been asymptomatic. Upon completion of the compulsory quarantine on November 30, he stayed in the Kimberley Hotel. He underwent another test on December 6 as required and tested positive for COVID-19, and carries the L452R mutant strain (does not carry the N501Y or E484K mutant genes) but with a low viral load (Ct value over 30). He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Sinopharm) on May 18 and June 17 in the Mainland. Initial investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ghana in September this year. After examining the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings, this case is compatible with a re-positive case. The CHP is following up the case with the Ghana health authority. As a prudent measure, the places where he resided and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period had been 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 the specified date.
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 9):
- On Kin House, On Tin Estate, Lam Tin
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 "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)."
Follow this news feed: East Asia