2 quarantine-exempt youngsters test preliminary positive for Covid-19

By The SUN 

(Updated)

Taikoo before tonight's ambush lockdown (from Taikoo Community Facebook page)

A residential building in Tai Koo Shing was put under lockdown starting tonight after two of its residents who were spending their quarantine at home, tested preliminary positive for Covid-19. One was found to carry the L452R mutant strain.

According to a statement released at 8:23pm by the Centre for Health Protection, the two cases involve a 13-year-old girl and her 11-year-old brother who live at Tang Kung Mansion in Tai Koo Shing. They are said to be the children of a Saudi diplomat.

Earlier, another residential building in Wan Chai, Leon Court, was also locked down overnight after a 39-year-old male resident there tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving from France on Sunday.

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The man, who left for France only on Jul 2, was also found to carry the L452R variant. This was despite him receiving two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong on Apr 6 and 27 in Hong Kong.

An antigen test also showed his blood specimen positive for antibodies on Jun 23.

Meanwhile, the two kids reportedly arrived in Hong Kong from Saudi Arabia via flight QR818 from Doha, Qatar on Jul 16 and underwent self-isolation at home on arrival, as they were classified as persons exempt from quarantine.

(Starting today, flight QR818 operated by Qatar Airways has been put under a two-week suspension after four of its passengers on Jul 18 were found infected on arrival test).

The two took flight QR818 which was today put under suspension after flying in 4 infected passengers 

On their arrival at the airport, the youngsters gave specimens which tested negative for Covid-19. But their deep throat saliva samples submitted three days later tested preliminary positive.

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The girl developed a fever on Saturday, Jul 17, but the boy has been asymptomatic.

Further tests done at the Department of Health’s laboratory showed the girl carries the L452R strain commonly linked to the Delta variant of the coronavirus, while the result of the test done on the boy is still pending.

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Under Covid-related regulations, the Chief Secretary for Administration is given the power to exempt certain groups of travelers from quarantine if their entry is necessary for the supply of goods and services needed in Hong Kong, for governmental operations, public emergencies and other important reasons.

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Diplomats, their spouses and under-age children also enjoy free quarantine as part of the privileges and immunities granted them under international laws.

The CHP says its epidemiological investigations and contact tracing on the two cases are ongoing.

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During the overnight lockdown. all residents of Leon Court and Tang Kung Mansion will be tested for Covid-19. They will again be tested on days 3, 7, 12 and 19 starting from today.

All places visited by the two youngsters and the man from France during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice.

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