The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating one imported COVID-19 case, taking the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 11,848.

The imported case involves a 58-year-old man who arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, the centre reported the latest epidemiological investigation progress regarding case number 11846 announced on June 1 involving a 35-year-old male police officer.

The genetic analysis of the specimen conducted by the Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch revealed that his specimen was compatible with the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine strain.

Further genetic analysis conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Microbiology also led to the same finding.

After examining the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory findings, the centre explained that the case is compatible with vaccine strain contamination, hence it will not be classified as a COVID-19 infection case and has been deleted.

The centre added that the exact contamination source will require further investigation and the officer’s close contacts will be released from the quarantine centre if they obtain a negative test result.

A total of 21 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, all of which are imported.

Meanwhile, six schools are now covered in the compulsory testing notice due to outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection or influenza-like illness.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government’s dedicated webpage.