Staff members check the cell phone of a man in the "restricted area" to see whether he has undergone compulsory testing in the enforcement operation at Grand Promenade, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong, Oct 16, 2021. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government cordoned off Friday evening a building in the Sai Wan Ho neighboring for mandatory COVID-19 testing after a staff member of the Russian Consulate General in Hong Kong tested preliminarily positive for the L452R mutant strain.

The government made a restriction-testing declaration for Tower 1 of Grand Promenade at 7 pm, requiring residents there to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. As of 1 am Saturday, around 830 residents had undergone testing and no confirmed cases were found.

ALSO READ: 4 more HK public hospitals to get COVID-19 jab stations

The Centre for Health Protection said the 55-year-old staff member of the Russian Consulate General left Hong Kong on Aug 22 for Russia and returned to the city on Oct 5 on flight AY101 via Finland.

The Centre for Health Protection said the 55-year-old staff member of the Russian Consulate General left Hong Kong on Aug 22 for Russia and returned to the city on Oct 5 on flight AY101 via Finland

His specimen collected upon arrival at the Hong Kong airport was negative for COVID-19. The man then underwent self-isolation at home under the relevant arrangement for exempted persons, the CHP said.

During the self-isolation period, the man received compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the relevant requirements, the CHP added. The sample submitted on Oct 14 tested preliminarily positive and carried the L452R mutant strain.

“He has been asymptomatic and received two doses of Sinovac vaccination in Hong Kong on June 29 and July 27,” the CHP said. “According to the information he provided, the man had stayed at home after his arrival.”

This screengrab taken from https://gia.info.gov.hk shows the restricted area at Grand Promenade declared by the Hong Kong government on Oct 15, 2021. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

After conducting a risk assessment, the government decided to make a restriction-testing declaration for Tower 1 of Grand Promenade where he lives. 

READ MORE: HK logs 1 case, US consulate staffer again tests positive

Those who have undergone testing from Oct 13 to 15 and can provide testing proof are not required to undergo testing again, the CHP said.

The government completed the exercise at around 7 am Saturday.

According to the compulsory testing notice, people who had been present at the building for more than two hours from Sept 24 to Oct 15 must undergo compulsory testing on or before Oct 17 even if they were not present in the restricted area at the time when the declaration took effect, the government added.