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Published: 17:47, January 16, 2022 | Updated: 19:15, January 16, 2022
HK sees 11 new virus cases, 1 preliminary Delta variant case
By Wang Zhan
Published:17:47, January 16, 2022 Updated:19:15, January 16, 2022 By Wang Zhan

People walk through a flower market in Hong Kong's Prince Edward area on Jan 16, 2022, ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year of Tiger. (BERTHA WANG / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and an untraceable  preliminary case involving the Delta variant.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing that the new cases included eight imported infections, one related to a previous case and another one linked to an imported infection.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing there were eight imported infections and three local cases

Chuang said the remaining case involved a 43-year-old Pakistani housewife and it was still under investigation to determine the source of her infection. 

The patient had returned to Hong Kong on Dec 20 and was quarantined for three weeks at the Silka Seaview Hotel Hong Kong in Yau Ma Tei, during which she was tested six times but the results were negative.

ALSO READ: No new virus cases found in Tsing Yi, Sham Shui Po testing

She went home after her quarantine but then tested positive on Jan 14 at a community testing center.

Chuang said the CHP was investigating whether she got her infection in the community or during her quarantine at the hotel.

Chuang said a 71-year-old Pakistani man who was staying next to the room of the patient had tested positive for the virus. Two other persons staying on another floor also got infected.

“We suspect there could be transmission between these rooms. Our colleagues are examining the site to see if the cases are related,” Chuang said.

She added that the patient’s husband and four children would have to be quarantined. The building where they were living in Sham Shui Po was cordoned off on Saturday night for targeted testing but no new cases were found.

Chuang also said that fewer than 10 persons tested preliminarily positive for the virus on Sunday, including an untraceable case involving a 23-year-old pet shop employee who had the Delta variant.

READ MORE: HK sees 5 new virus cases, mulls vaccine for ages 5-11 next week

“There may be a Delta strain circulating. It is not only restricted to Omicron cases so, of course, we are very worried whether there are other sources of infection that have not been detected,” Chuang said.

She said the patient, who lives in Aberdeen and had received two vaccine jabs, had a sore throat on Jan 11 but decided to take some medicine on her own before going a clinic on Jan 15, where she tested preliminarily positive.

“We appeal to the public that if you get any symptoms, even if they're mild, please get tested as soon as possible,” Chuang said.

The patient was responsible for cleaning the cages and showing the animals to customers at the pet shop in Causeway Bay. The woman also stayed in a hotel in Wan Chai on Jan 10, Chuang added.


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