A boat heads to the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter in Hong Kong on Oct 17, 2021. (BERTHA WANG / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported two imported COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, both of which involved mutant strains, as the city's health chief appealed to members of the public to get vaccinated against the virus and the seasonal flu.  

In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the Centre for Health Protection said a 3-year-old girl from Mongolia and a 51-year-old man from the United Kingdom tested psoitive for variant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The city’s tally stood at 12,301.

The CHP said the patients’ infection was confirmed when they got tested after arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee urged members of the public, particularly the elderly, to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu and COVID-19 to "build up double protection"

It added that 69 cases were reported from Oct 5 to 18, including one untraceable local case while the rest were imported.

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Meanwhile, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee urged members of the public, particularly the elderly, to get their shots against the seasonal flu and COVID-19.

She said the government’s seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) drive has started and elderly people residing in the community or residential care homes should get their jabs as soon as possible “to build up dual protection”.

“Currently, only less than 20 percent of elderly people aged 80 or above have received COVID-19 vaccines. Senior citizens, persons with chronic diseases and other immunocompromised people face a high risk of deteriorating condition and even death once infected by COVID-19,” Chan said.

Chan made the statement after attending a community vaccination drive in Tsuen Kwan O, where 300 residents participated.

"Evidence repeatedly indicates that a person who contracts influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and will have a higher risk of death. Receiving SIV can reduce the chance of hospitalization and the length of stay,” Chan said.

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She said the Hospital Authority has set up COVID-19 Vaccination Stations at Queen Mary Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Caritas Medical Centre and Prince of Wales Hospital.

The Elderly Health Centres of the Department of Health, the HA and the District Health Centres also provide COVID-19 vaccination services for the elderly, Chan added.