By Daisy CL Mandap
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| 6 of the patients from the Phl flew via PAL, 2 on Cebu Pacific, and 1 on Cathay |
A total of nine newly confirmed cases in Hong Kong today, Jan 1, had flown in from the Philippines, and all except one are foreign domestic helpers. All carry the mutant strains linked to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
They were among a total of 17 new Covid-19 cases reported by the Centre for Health Protection, which include one involving a ground staff at HK Airport, classified as “possibly import-related.” They took Hong Kong’s total tally to 12,667.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The new arrivals from
the Philippines include the six who all tested positive on their arrival at HK
Airport on Dec 30, prompting the two-week suspension from yesterday of flight
PR300 from Manila.
Five of them, aged 28 to 27, are all FDHs. One, aged 50, is not, and has also been identified as “possibly import-related.” Four of the FDHs and the local resident are asymptomatic while the remaining helper developed symptoms on Dec 29.
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Two of the other arrivals from the Philippines flew in by Cebu Pacific flight 5J272 on separate dates.
One is female, aged 42, who arrived on Dec 28 and had quarantined at iclub Hotel in Fortress Hill, indicating she was vaccinated in Hong Kong. The other is a 38-year-old male helper who flew in on Dec 29 and tested positive at Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Another helper who came from the Philippines took Cathay Pacific flight CX906 on Dec 28. The 34-year-old female patient was staying at Pentahotel in Kowloon when she tested positive on her fifth-day test.
The recent surge in the number of travelers arriving from the Philippines with the mutant strains reflect an exponential rise in the number of Covid-19 infections in the country since after Christmas. The Philippines reported 3,617 new infections today, the highest since Oct 30.
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| Tests confirmed the 2 local cases of Omicron were linked to 2 CX aircrew |
Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong said complete genome sequencing of four cases involving two Cathay aircrew and two local residents showed they were genetically linked.
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One aircrew who arrived on Dec 24 met the next day with a colleague who had just flown into Hong Kong. Both tested negative on arrival, but were found infected with the Omicron variant on Dec 27 and 28, respectively.
On Dec 27 the second aircrew had lunch at Moon Palace Restaurant in Kowloon Tong, inadvertently passing the highly infectious variant to his father who was with him, and a second diner who was seated about 10 meters away.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
However, none of the 44
environmental samples taken by the CHP from the restaurant tested positive,
reinforcing the view by one health expert that a short airborne transmission
had occurred between the infected aircrew staff and the diner who was seated
relatively far from him.
According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local cases with mutant strains, everyone who resided or worked in the same building on specified dates as an infected patient will be subject to compulsory testing. 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).
The CHP reminded the public that those covered by a CTN on the following premises must undergo testing tomorrow, Jan 2:
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Wing
Chak House, Chak On Estate, Chak On Road, Shek Kip Mei
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Block
A, Hoi Tao Building, Belcher's Street, Kennedy Town
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Block
2, Grandeur Terrace, Tin Shui Road, Tin Shui Wai
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| PADALA NA! |
