By The SUN
 |
| The Filipina DH tested positive for the coronavirus variant on arrival from Manila Saturday, |
For the first time since November last year, the
number of new Covid-19 cases dropped to single digits, and less than half of them were locally acquired.
Dr Albert Au from the Centre for Health Protection said
in the daily press briefing today, Feb 15, that there were nine new infections,
consisting of five imported and four local cases, of which three were of
unknown sources.
 |
| Pindutin para sa detalye! |
Among the imported cases was a Filipina domestic worker who was found to have the more infectious N501Y strain of the coronavirus first detected in Britain. The 25-year-old Filipina arrived on Feb 13 from Manila on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 300 and tested positive at Hong Kong airport.
Dr
Au said she is among 10 confirmed patients found to have brought in this
variant from abroad. Yesterday, a flight attendant who tested positive on
arrival from Turkey, was also found to carry the mutant strain.
 |
| Call now! |
Two of the imported cases were both Indonesian domestic workers who arrived on different dates. The first is 28 years old and arrived on Jan 27, meaning she would have tested positive on her third test while in quarantine. The second, who is 44 years old, tested positive on her arrival at the airport on Feb 13.
The two others were also found infected on their arrival on Feb 13. One is a 36-year-oldmale returnee from Poland, and the other is a 56-year-old male seafarer who arrived from India via Dubai.
 |
| CONTACT US! |
The total number of cases in Hong Kong has reached 10,789, with 186 related deaths. A total of 348 confirmed patients are being treated in 23 public hospitals and the treatment facility in AsiaWorld Expo. They consist of 21 patients in critical condition, 11 serious, and 310 in stable condition.
Fewer than 10 preliminary positive cases were detected, and three of them were of unknown sources.
They included a 39-year-old housewife in Diamond Hill, a staff at the Kwai Chung Fire Department, and an 8-year-old school girl in Shek Lei estate who lives next to a flat with a confirmed patient.
 |
| CLICK FOR DETAILS |
The three confirmed cases with unknown sources included a 79-year-old female retiree who lives in a building in Ma Tau Wai that was listed under compulsory testing on Feb 11. Five patients living in three different units in the building have been detected.
Another confirmed case whose source could not be traced was a 34-year-old man who works as a baker in Balencia bakey in Yata Department Store in Tuen Mun; and a clerk at a law firm on Queen’s Road Central who lives in Heng Fa Chuen, Chai Wan.
 |
| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love |
The only linked case is a Tsuen Wan resident whose family member had tested positive for the virus earlier.
 |
| Lam warns cases may spike again after the long holiday |
CHP Controller Dr Ronald Lam acknowledged the significant drop in cases, but warned against complacency, saying there could be infections that were not reported immediately because of the Lunar New Year holiday.
He said that previously, the number of cases had gone up significantly after a long holiday. In the past two weeks, he pointed out that about 90% of all infections were acquired locally, and 30% of these were of unknown sources, indicating there is still a lot of hidden transmissions going on.
Lam advised those returning to work tomorrow to stay vigilant and maintain personal hygiene. They should wear masks when using common facilities, and must immediately put them back on after eating.
Shared facilities such as meeting rooms and the pantry should be disinfected regularly.
