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

Sewage samples taken from various locations in Tai Po, except the building where a confirmed COVID-19 patient lives, are virus-free.

Environmental Protection Department Deputy Director Samuel Chui made the remarks at a press briefing today, adding that the sample collection will continue despite the latest encouraging findings.

After a resident of Wan Hang House at Wan Tau Tong Estate tested preliminary positive for the virus yesterday, authorities began taking sewage samples from different locations in Tai Po.

Mr Chui said a sample collected from the sewage system near Yat Nga Court contained the L452R mutant strain.

“We collected sewage samples from the downstream end of the sewer system, and in Tai Po we collected the samples around Yat Nga Court where (the samples we took were) positive. 

“Then we traced the sewage upstream. At the other place, Wan Hang House (in Wan Tau Tong Estate) which is the place where the (patient of) the confirmed (COVID-19) case was found - he lives there, we took samples and found (they were) positive. And this positive signal shows that it is an L452R spike protein (mutation).”