The Government made a restriction-testing declaration at One South Lane in Shek Tong Tsui effective from 10.30 this evening, requesting people within this specified restricted area to undergo compulsory testing.

It explained that the risk of infection in the building is assessed to be likely higher, after a preliminary positive case who lived there was detected today, and the preliminary test result involved a mutant strain.

The case involves a 45-year-old local male aircrew. He tested negative in Hong Kong on December 17 and left on December 21 for the US on flight CX844. Returning to Hong Kong on December 23 via flight CX841, his specimen collected upon arrival was also negative for the virus. He then underwent medical surveillance and regular compulsory testing in accordance with the relevant requirements for exempted individuals.

According to the patient, he had been staying at home except when he bought food in the community or went to a community testing centre. He tested preliminary positive on December 26, with symptoms developed. The cycle threshold (Ct) value was about 16 to 22. He received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in May as well as one dose of the Sinovac jab on December 13 in Hong Kong.

Since the patient had stayed in Hong Kong during most of the incubation period, the Government decided to make a restriction-testing declaration for One South Lane in Shek Tong Tsui where he lives. At the same time, the places where he had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will be included in a compulsory testing notice.

Citizens in the restricted area have to get tested before 2am on December 28. The Government aims to finish the exercise at around 7am tomorrow.

Those in the restricted area who have undergone virus testing from December 25 to 27 and are able to provide a proof are not required to take the test again.

However, people who had been in One South Lane for more than two hours from December 5 to 27, even if they were not present in the restricted area at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before December 29. Vaccinated people will not be exempted.

Separately, the Centre for Health Protection is looking into another case which involves a 46-year-old local male aircrew member living at Peninsula Village Twilight Court in Discovery Bay. He finished his BioNTech COVID-19 jab course in Hong Kong in July.

Having tested negative in Hong Kong on December 19, 20 and 22, the patient left Hong Kong on December 23 on flight CX840 for the US and returned on December 25 on flight CX843. His specimen collected upon arrival tested negative for COVID-19.

However, today at a community testing centre, he tested preliminary positive without showing symptoms, with a Ct value of about 31 to 33.

As a prudent measure, the places where he had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will be included in a compulsory testing notice, the centre announced.