Hong Kong sees 5 new virus cases, bans some of Turkish Airlines flights

All five new infections in Hong Kong were imported, said the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. - Xinhua

HONG KONG (China Daily/Asia News Network): Hong Kong reported five new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday (Sept 29), bringing the overall tally to 12,214, as the government banned Turkish Airlines' flight from Istanbul from landing in Hong Kong under the place-specific flight suspension mechanism.

All new infections were imported, said the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health in a statement. They involved five women aged 23 to 37 who had traveled from the Philippines, Jordan and Japan.

They remained asymptomatic and had all received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, the CHP said.

A total of 61 cases have been reported in the past 14 days and all of them were imported cases, the centre added.

The health authorities on Wednesday also announced the suspension of the landing of passenger flights from Istanbul operated by Turkish Airlines in Hong Kong from Sept 29 to Oct 12.

The announcement came after one passenger on the airlines’ flight TK083 was confirmed to have Covid-19 by arrival testing, and two other passengers on the same flight failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H).

The centre also said it is continuing with the epidemiological investigation and contact tracing of a suspected re-positive overseas case.

The case involved a 22-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 in India in April this year. He returned to Hong Kong on Sept 12 and tested positive for Covid-19 on Sept 26.

“He was asymptomatic and his antibody test result after admission to hospital was positive,” the CHP said.