The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 23) said that it is investigating a preliminary positive local case of COVID-19 from an unknown source involving the L452R mutant strain. 
 
     The case involves a 27-year-old male patient who lives at Wan Hang House in Wan Tau Tong Estate in Tai Po. He developed symptoms including fever, sore throat and cough on June 21 and consulted a private doctor on the same day. He submitted a deep throat saliva sample on the following day and the sample tested preliminarily positive and carried the L452R mutant strain.
 
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the above case are ongoing. Preliminary information revealed that he has no recent travel history and worked as an airline ground crew staff member at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), where he had received cargo flight crews. He last went to work at HKIA on June 16. He also worked part-time to provide customer service at Uptown Plaza in Tai Po, where he last went to work on June 22.

     The Government will arrange for the building where the patient resides, his workplaces and the places he had visited during the incubation and infectious period to be included in a compulsory testing notice. People who had been present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on or before the specified date.
 
     The CHP's investigation reveals that the patient has not received COVID-19 vaccination. Epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of the case will continue.

     The CHP also urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk, to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons. Moreover, the Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).

Ends/Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Issued at HKT 18:55

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