HK sees 6 more COVID-19 cases

November 15, 2021

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating six additional imported COVID-19 cases, five of them coming from high-risk places while the remaining one arrived from a medium-risk place.

 

Four of the cases involve the L452R mutant strain, one linked to the N501Y mutant strain and the remaining case's mutation test result is pending.

 

The case linked to N501Y involves a 36-year-old man living at Block 5, Rambler Crest in Tsing Yi.

 

The patient tested negative in Hong Kong on October 22 and travelled to South Africa on the next day. He returned to Hong Kong on November 11 by flight QR818. His specimen collected upon arrival at the airport tested negative for COVID-19.

 

His sample tested positive during quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel and carries the N501Y mutant strain.

 

The place where the patient resided in Hong Kong during the incubation period has been included in a compulsory testing notice.

 

Separately, the centre continues to follow up on the three imported cases involving local cargo crew who carry the L452R mutant strain.

 

Cases 12376 and 12378 arrived in Hong Kong from Germany on November 6 and their samples collected on November 8 tested positive while case 12387 arrived in Hong Kong from Germany on November 7 and his sample collected on November 12 tested positive.

 

The centre discovered from its epidemiological investigations and contact tracing that cases 12376 and 12378 both arrived in Frankfurt in Germany on November 1 and checked into the same hotel, Hyatt Regency Mainz, as arranged by their company Cathay Pacific Airways.

 

Both of them said that they did not leave their rooms during their stay in the hotel and did not participate in any gatherings.

 

Case 12387 arrived in Frankfurt on November 3 and also stayed in that hotel and he said that he did not leave his room during his stay in the hotel and did not have contact with cases 12376 and 12378.

 

Epidemiological investigations revealed that the three patients might have acquired the infection during their stay in that hotel and that a cluster outbreak may have occurred.

 

The centre informed the health authority of Germany to follow up on the situation. It also informed Cathay Pacific of the preliminary investigation findings.

 

The centre arranged compulsory quarantine in a quarantine centre for all crew members of the airline who had stayed in that hotel in Germany on or after November 1. Other inbound travellers arriving in Hong Kong who had stayed in that hotel on or after November 1 will also be arranged for compulsory quarantine in a quarantine centre.

 

All these people have to undergo the quarantine until the 21st day since the day they left the hotel.

 

The centre reminded specified people in relation to Harbour Pinnacle in Tsim Sha Tsui as well as Tower 1, 2 and 3, Hampton Place in Tai Kok Tsui to undergo testing tomorrow in accordance with the compulsory testing notice.

 

The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at 15-17 Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and the open-air car park, G/F, Hampton Place in Tai Kok Tsui tomorrow to provide free testing service for people subject to compulsory testing.

 

In view of patients linked to two previous imported cases who had stayed in Hong Kong during the incubation period, anyone who had been present at four specified premises must undergo additional testing.

 

Additionally, 15 schools are covered in the compulsory testing notice due to an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection or influenza-like illness.

 

A total of 35 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.

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