On 21 December, the HKSAR Government website issued a press release saying that the Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Department of Health today reported on the progress of the epidemiological investigation of eight previously confirmed imported cases (case numbers: 12529, 12530, 12531, 12532, 12533, 12534, 12535 and 12536). Based on whole genome sequencing analysis conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service of the Department of Health, eight cases were identified with a mutant strain of the virus that requires attention.
The above cases involved 6 males and 2 females, aged between 20 and 68 years. Two of them tested positive for "pending testing" at the Hong Kong International Airport Temporary Sample Collection Centre upon arrival, five were confirmed during quarantine and the remaining one tested positive while waiting for a connecting flight in the restricted area of Hong Kong International Airport. Details of the cases were released on 19 and 20 December. Together with the above 8 cases, a total of 27 cases involving Omi kerong have been recorded in Hong Kong so far.
Source Beijing Daily client
Edited by Meng Ziwei
Process Editor Tai Shaofeng
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