The Government has made a restriction-testing declaration for Tower 1, Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho due to a preliminary positive imported COVID-19 case involving the L452R mutant strain.

The Centre for Health Protection said the 55-year-old male patient is a staff member of the Russian Consulate General in Hong Kong. He left on August 22 for Russia and returned to the city on October 5 by flight AY101 via Finland.

His specimen collected upon arrival at the airport was negative for COVID-19. The man then underwent self-isolation at home under the relevant arrangement for exempted persons during which he received compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the relevant requirements.

The sample submitted on October 14 tested preliminarily positive and carried the L452R mutant strain. He has been asymptomatic and received two doses of Sinovac vaccination in Hong Kong on June 29 and July 27. According to the information he provided, the man had stayed at home after his arrival.

After conducting a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a restriction-testing declaration for Tower 1, Grand Promenade where he lives.

The declaration took effect from 7pm and aims to be finished by about 7am tomorrow. Those who have undergone testing from October 13 to 15 and can provide testing proof are not required to undergo testing again.

According to the compulsory testing notice, people who had been present at the building for more than two hours from September 24 to October 15 must undergo compulsory testing on or before October 17 even if they were not present in the restricted area at the time when the declaration took effect.

Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.