Three inbound passengers from the Philippines tested positive for COVID-19

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The Center of Health Protection (CHP) reported on Saturday (May 7), 278 confirmed cases. A total of 115 were tested using PCR (61 asymptomatic cases and 14 cases with pending case status), and 163 additional positive cases through rapid antigen tests (RATs) (100 symptomatic cases and 63 asymptomatic cases).

From the confirmed cases, there are 18 imported cases.

The three identified imported cases were passengers arriving from the Philippines, two via Cebu Pacific 5j114, and one via Cebu Pacific 5j272.

While the flights of other imported cases came from Istanbul, Canada, Japan, and Europe. Though there were 18 imported cases, no flight ban was reported.

Of the 18 imported cases, the 10 inbound travelers tested positive on arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, while the eight travelers tested positive during the quarantine period.

Hong Kong has recorded a total of 759 431 and 446 888 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

Meanwhile, whole genome sequencing analysis by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that one and two earlier imported cases were found to carry the sub-lineage BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1 under the Omicron mutant strain respectively. These imported cases, involving one male and two females aged 17 to 36, arrived in Hong Kong from the United States and Canada during the period from April 30 to May 3. All cases tested positive on arrival. Together with these three new cases, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 13 relevant cases and all of them are imported cases. No cases of the sub-lineages were found in the local community so far and the CHP will continue to closely monitor the latest developments.

In addition, on May 7, a total of 9 131 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded (i.e. no new reported cases), with 9 053 and 75 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 344 death cases that have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.