The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (November 19) said that it is investigating a preliminary positive imported case of COVID-19 involving the L452R mutant strain.
The case involves a 31-year-old female patient who is a foreign domestic helper. She arrived in Hong Kong on October 23 from the Philippines by flight 5J272 and her specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested negative for COVID-19. The results of six tests conducted during compulsory quarantine at the designated quarantine facility (Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre) were also negative. Upon completion of the compulsory quarantine on November 13, she returned to the residence of her employer at Way Man Court, 50-52 Village Road, Happy Valley. She underwent another test on November 18 at a community testing centre and the sample tested preliminarily positive, with a low viral load, a Ct value of larger than 30. Her specimen carried the L452R mutant strain (but was negative for the N501Y and E484K strains).
The patient has been asymptomatic and received one dose of COVID-19 vaccination (Janssen) on July 23 in the Philippines. One of her test results after admission to hospital was indeterminate while her antibody test was positive.
Due to the presence of a mutant strain, the Government has adopted a prudent measure and will make a "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the building where the patient resided in Hong Kong (Way Man Court, 50-52 Village Road, Happy Valley). The places where she had visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice.
Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.
​The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).
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