Hong Kong Reports Three Imported Covid Cases

Health authorities on Thursday reported three new imported Covid-19 cases, involving fully-vaccinated people who flew in from the Philippines, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

All three were diagnosed to carry the L452R mutant strain, but were asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, health authorities said genome sequencing analysis carried out by the University of Hong Kong showed that two Cathay Pacific pilots confirmed to have Covid on Wednesday both carried the same AY.43 sublineage of the Delta strain, which is common in Germany where they had returned.

Tests by the Centre for Health Protection also found that a 56-year-old Covid patient – who was confirmed with the virus last Sunday – had carried the more infectious AY.4.2 variant, or "Delta plus", making him the second person diagnosed to have the variant in Hong Kong.

The triple-jabbed man returned to the SAR from the UK on November 1, onboard the same British Airways flight as the 62-year-old man who had been confirmed with the Delta plus variant last Friday.

Authorities said the two men had sat close to each other on the flight, adding that investigations are continuing.