The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (December 18), two COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 12430 and 12497) were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. While one patient (case number: 12430) had left Hong Kong and the other patient (case number: 12497) had been released from isolation order by the Department of Health. So far, a total of 12 182 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.

     A total of 83 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre. Among those patients, one is in serious condition (case number: 12431) while the remaining are in stable condition.

     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner. 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (December 18), two COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 12430 and 12497) were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. While one patient (case number: 12430) had left Hong Kong and the other patient (case number: 12497) had been released from isolation order by the Department of Health. So far, a total of 12 182 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.

     A total of 83 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre. Among those patients, one is in serious condition (case number: 12431) while the remaining are in stable condition.

     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner. 

     Police today (December 18) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Tseung Kwan O.

     Wong Ming, aged 62, went missing after she left her residence at Tong Ming Street yesterday morning (December 17). Her family made a report to Police today.

     She is about 1.58 metres tall, 65 kilograms in weight and of medium build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and long straight black hair. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, black shoes and carrying a black rucksack.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0335 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 18, the CHP was investigating five additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 519 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 518 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported cases are imported cases which involved mutant strains. The patients comprise three females and two males, aged 24 to 83. One of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) with enhanced surveillance and the remaining four arrived in Hong Kong from Group A specified places (high-risk). One patient tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at Hong Kong International Airport and the other four tested positive during quarantine. 

     Meanwhile, the CHP provided an update on the latest investigations on three imported cases announced yesterday (case 12513, 12514 and 12515) involving three males aged between 27 and 36. The whole genome sequencing conducted by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that the three cases all carried the Variant of Concern Omicron. Case 12513 involves a local cargo crew member who underwent medical surveillance in accordance with the relevant requirements for exempted persons. He tested positive under regular compulsory testing. The Government has made a "restriction-testing declaration" earlier for the building where the patient resided in Hong Kong. The compulsory testing frequency has also been increased for persons who resided or worked at the same building as the residence of the case. The relevant persons will be subject to compulsory testing on December 18, 19, 20, 23, 28 and January 4 (see the details at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). Also, the CHP has arranged about 10 of his close contacts and about 10 household contacts of those close contacts to conduct quarantine at quarantine centre. No relevant confirmed case so far. The other two cases (12514 and 12515) tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the TSCC.

     Together with the three aforementioned cases, there are so far 14 cases involving Omicron in Hong Kong.

     A total of 65 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (December 4 to 17) and all of them are imported cases.

     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).

     â€‹â€‹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)."

     In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said today (December 18) that the Government is fully dedicated in the final preparation stage of the orderly resumption of quarantine-free travel with the Mainland, including the quota, and will make an announcement at a suitable juncture.

     The Government understands that not being able to have quarantine-free travel to the Mainland for a prolonged period of time has affected the daily lives and different kinds of interactions between people in these two places, including official and business engagements and non-official and non-business situations. The Government will consider the handling of quota in a comprehensive and holistic manner.