No Covid-19 Cases Found After Overnight Lockdown

Authorities said on Friday that no Covid-19 cases had been found after an overnight lockdown of a Tuen Mun residential building after a resident tested preliminary positive for a mutant strain of the coronavirus.

More than 1,200 residents were tested at On Hei House in Siu Hei Court, and the lockdown was lifted at 6:15am on Friday.

Authorities suspect that the patient – a toilet cleaner at the airport, 64 – carries the Omicron variant.

According to a preliminary investigation by health authorities, he works mainly at a designated toilet used solely by preliminary-positive imported cases at the airport before they're sent to hospital.

Health authorities said the cleaner had spent time at the storeroom inside the toilet during work, and had been in the toilet with the preliminary-positive cases.

Authorities believe the cleaner likely acquired the infection while working at the toilet.

He has had no recent travel history, and last went to work on Wednesday.

The Centre for Health Protection said it has advised the Airport Authority and the contractor in question that cleaners should only perform cleaning and disinfection work after the preliminary-positive cases have left the toilet, and cleaners should not stay inside the storeroom when they are not working.

He tested preliminary positive and developed symptoms on Wednesday. Health authorities said whole genome sequencing needs to be carried out whether he carries the Omicron variant.

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