The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10 additional imported COVID-19 cases, nine of which involve the L452R mutant strain while the other one carries the N501Y mutant strain.

The newly reported cases concern six men and four women, nine of them arrived in the city from high-risk places and one from a medium-risk place.

Eight patients tested positive upon arrival in Hong Kong and one tested positive during quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel.

The remaining case is a sea crew member who arrived in Hong Kong from Japan via the cargo vessel Glory Sky on December 1. There were confirmed cases involving sea crew members of that vessel earlier. The patient tested positive during quarantine on board.

Meanwhile, the centre is investigating a COVID-19 case in Taiwan involving a 51-year-old female patient who lives at Silver Waves Court in Mui Wo.

She tested negative in Hong Kong on November 30. She travelled to Taiwan on December 2 by flight CX494 and her specimen collected in Taiwan on the same day tested negative. She then tested positive on December 12 with a cycle threshold (Ct) value of about 20.

According to information provided by the patient, she developed symptoms on December 11. She has received two doses of the BioNTech jab in Hong Kong.

The centre is following up on the case with the Taiwan health authority. As a prudent measure, the places where the patient visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice.

Plus, as Nepal Airlines flight RA409 from Kathmandu, Nepal, arriving in Hong Kong on December 14 had four passengers confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival testing, the Department of Health invoked a law to prohibit the landing of the carrier’s passenger flights from Kathmandu from December 16 to 29.

In view of a preliminary imported case who had stayed in Hong Kong during the incubation period, 12 specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice.

The mobile specimen collection stations at various districts will provide free testing services to those subject to compulsory testing.

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