(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection announced today it is investigating five additional imported cases of COVID-19, among them, three are flight crew members who belong to groups of people that can be exempted from compulsory quarantine.

Two males, a 57-year-old and a 29-year-old, arrived in Hong Kong from Germany via the same flight on November 6. The centre considers that there is a risk of them spreading the virus due to their high viral load.

The centre’s Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said the patients had spent a few days in the community before they tested positive.

“Before testing positive for COVID-19 on November 8, they had spent the previous few days, from November 6 to 9, in the community in Hong Kong. But fortunately, they did not have any extensive local movements. They mainly stayed at home and visited some places.

“As a precautionary measure, we have put all the places that they have visited under a compulsory testing notice yesterday.

“We are worried that their family members have already acquired the infection after their arrival on November 6. As a prudent measure, we have made quarantine arrangements for all the close contacts of the household contacts of the two cases at a quarantine centre for three days.”

Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said the centre has used all means to identify the locations the patients had been to.

“Apart from their memories, apart from their diaries, we use all means to try to identify the locations so that we can announce to the public and they can get tested as soon as possible.

“So for this case we are trying to ask the patients to give us information and also using the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to identify the locations and venues. And apart from these, we are trying to make use of the transaction records of their Octopus cards in case anyone forgot where he had gone to.”

The other cabin crew worker is 34 years old and he arrived in Hong Kong from Qatar on November 8.

The remaining patients involve a foreign domestic helper who arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines and a teenage girl who arrived from Italy.

Additionally, two specified places have been included in a compulsory testing notice as two patients in relation to imported cases had stayed in Hong Kong during the incubation period. Those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course still need to get tested.

Furthermore, two schools where an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection and/or influenza-like illness occurred have been covered in the same compulsory testing notice. People who have finished their jab course, however, can be exempted.

Meanwhile, the mobile specimen collection station set up by the Government at Ocean Park carpark today will remain open tomorrow to provide free testing services for citizens subject to compulsory testing.

A total of 39 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, all of which are imported.

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