CHP investigates nine additional confirmed cases of COVID-19
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 26, the CHP was investigating nine additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 590 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 589 confirmed cases and one probable case).
The newly reported cases are imported cases. Six of the cases involved mutant strains while the mutation test results of the remaining three cases are pending. The patients comprise three males and six females, aged 19 to 57. Five of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) with enhanced surveillance and four from Group A specified places (high-risk). Four patients tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and four tested positive during quarantine. Case 12595 is a close contact of an imported case confirmed previously (case 12558) and tested positive at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre.
Among the above-mentioned cases, case 12592 involves a 46-year-old male patient who is a local air crew member living at Tower 3, The Visionary, Tung Chung. He tested negative for COVID-19 on December 19 and 20. He departed Hong Kong on December 22 for the United States (US) and returned to Hong Kong on December 25 from the US by flight CX845. His specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested positive. He was asymptomatic and with a Ct value less than 30 and his specimen carried the N501Y mutant strain. He received three doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) in Hong Kong. As a prudent measure, the places where he resided and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.
A total of 97 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (December 12 to 25). One of them is an import-related case, while the rest are imported cases.
According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).
Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the CTN tomorrow (December 27):
- On Hei House, Siu Hei Court, 201 Wu Chui Road, Tuen Mun
The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
​​The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."