HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported nine new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, a significant decline from 25 a day earlier, bringing the infection tally to 12,589.
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All newly reported cases were imported, said the Centre for Health Protection in a statement. Six of the new infections involved mutant strains while the mutation test results of the remaining three cases were pending, the center added.
The aircrew member who tested positive lives at Tower 3, The Visionary in Tung Chung. He arrived in Hong Kong from the United States on flight CX845 on Dec 25
The patients comprised three men and six women aged 19 to 57. Among the patients was a 46-year-old local aircrew member who lives at Tower 3, The Visionary in Tung Chung. He tested negative for COVID-19 on Dec 19 and 20 before departing Hong Kong on Dec 22 for the United States. He returned to Hong Kong on Dec 25 on Cathay Pacific flight CX845. “His specimen collected upon arrival in the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport tested positive,” the CHP said, adding that he was asymptomatic.
The patient has a Ct value of less than 30 and his specimen carried the N501Y mutant strain, the CHP added. He has received three doses of BioNTech vaccination in Hong Kong, according to the center.
“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,” the center said.
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“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 COVID-19 infections have been reported in the past 14 days. One of them was an import-related case while the renaming ones were imported.
A total of 143 confirmed patients are currently hospitalized in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre. Among them, one is in serious condition while the rest in stable condition.