9 imported COVID-19 cases reported
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating nine additional imported COVID-19 cases involving three men and six women.
Five of the patients arrived from high-risk places with enhanced surveillance and the other four flew in from high-risk places.
Six cases involve mutant strains while the mutation test results of the remaining three cases are pending.
One of the patients is a local air crew member who lives at Tower 3, the Visionary in Tung Chung. He tested negative for the virus on December 19 and 20. He left Hong Kong on December 22 for the US and returned to the city on December 25 via flight CX845.
His specimen collected upon arrival at the airport tested positive for the N501Y mutant strain. He had received three doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong.
As a prudent measure, the places where the patient stayed and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice and people who were at the relevant venues at specified periods must undergo testing on a specified date.
The centre reminded people linked to On Hei House, Siu Hei Court in Tuen Mun to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow, when the mobile specimen collection station at the open area outside On Hei House will continue to operate.
Additionally, 24 specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. Those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course need to comply as well.
The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at Tower 10 of Park Avenue in Tai Kok Tsui and Ocean Park public transport interchange tomorrow to provide a free testing service for people subject to compulsory testing.
A total of 97 cases have been reported in the past 14 days. One of them is an import-related case and the rest are imported cases.
For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government’s dedicated webpage.