In this picture taken on Oct 4, 2020, a man waits for the results of a mandatory COVID-19 coronavirus test given to all new arrivals, while standing at a window with a view of parked Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon passenger jets on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport.
(ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong detected its sixth and seventh imported Omicron cases on Monday as the city reported two new COVID-19 infections, bringing the tally to 12,490.
In a statement issued on Monday night, the Centre for Health Protection said the two new Omicron infections involved a 62-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman who came back to Hong Kong together from the United Kingdom on Cathay Pacific flight CX252 on Dec 10.
The five other imported Omicron cases in Hong Kong involved two patients from South Africa, two others from Nigeria, and a patient from the United States
The patients, who tested positive at the airport, were both fully vaccinated and showed no symptoms, the CHP said.
The five other imported Omicron cases in Hong Kong involved two patients from South Africa, two others from Nigeria, and a patient from the United States.
ALSO READ: HK sees 5 new virus cases, including 4 with mutant strains
As the seven cases involving Omicron were all detected at the Hong Kong International Airport restricted area or at a designated quarantine hotel, there has not been a spread in the community, a CHP spokesman said.
The CHP will adopt the most stringent prevention and control measures to prevent the mutant strain from entering the local community, he added.
Meanwhile, the two patients who were confirmed infected with COVID-19 on Monday were a 75-year-old man from Pakistan and a 50-year-old man who had traveled to Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya. The man from Pakistan had the L452R variant.
The CHP added that a total of 61 cases were reported from Nov 29 to Dec 12 and all of them were imported.
READ MORE: HK tightens travel curbs for 3 countries over Omicron cases