London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Hong Kong Covid-19 infection source baffles officials despite British link

Hong Kong Covid-19 infection source baffles officials despite British link

Genome-sequencing testing on 48-year-old coronavirus patient reveals resemblance to infections detected last month in Britain. Hong Kong confirms eight new coronavirus cases, all imported.

The origin of Hong Kong’s first locally detected Covid-19 infection in more than 50 days continues to baffle officials, although researchers have found similarities with other Delta variant cases found recently in Britain.

Genome-sequencing testing on the 48-year-old airport worker confirmed as infected on Friday revealed a close resemblance to infections detected last month in the country, according to Polytechnic University analysis. But Dr Gilman Siu Kit-hang, of the university, said researchers were still unable to determine how he got infected.

The Environmental Protection Department, meanwhile, announced that sewage samples collected from Tai Wai’s Golden Lion Garden, where the cargo handler lives with his family, returned positive for the coronavirus.

“The viral load content of the sample is lower than normal, with a CT [cycle threshold] value of 35. It is currently uncertain whether the sewage sample carried any variant strain,” the department said. The lower the CT value, the higher the viral level.

Dr Gilman Siu Kit-hang, Polytechnic University’s associate professor of department of health, technology and informatics.


The department said it would arrange to take more sewage samples in the area once the harsh weather over the past two days brought on by Tropical Storm Lionrock had subsided.

Respiratory medicine expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu said the positive sewage samples in the area suggested the airport worker was probably the first coronavirus infection detected in Hong Kong of this particular type, known as an index case.

“If repeated samples are persistently positive after isolation of the index case, there will be a need to advance the next round of screening of residents to pick up any spread within the building,” Leung said.

Also on Saturday, Hong Kong confirmed eight new coronavirus cases, all imported. Three arrived from Pakistan, two from Indonesia, and the rest came from the Philippines, India and Nepal. The city’s tally now stands at 12,261 cases with 213 related deaths.

The latest community case, which on Friday ended Hong Kong’s 51-day run without a local infection, carried the L452R mutation which has been linked to several variants including the highly infectious Delta one.

The patient was tested regularly as a requirement of his cargo handling job at Hong Kong International Airport and received his second dose of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine in July. Medical experts have said that while vaccines do not offer total protection against infection, they vastly reduce the severity of the illness and likelihood of death.

The infection is the first locally detected case since an airport lounge employee was confirmed with the coronavirus on August 17.

The wife and five-year-old daughter of the 48-year-old cargo handler have both tested negative. The family of three live in Golden Glory Court Phase 1 in Tai Wai’s Golden Lion Garden.


Testing of 400 residents in their building uncovered no new infections, while about 30 children from the daughter’s kindergarten were sent into mandatory quarantine for three days.

Meanwhile, the turbulent weather that triggered rainstorm and typhoon warnings in Hong Kong forced the suspension of Covid-19 vaccination and testing centres on Saturday, after disrupting services the day before.

Those whose vaccination bookings were affected would receive an SMS notification to reschedule their appointment.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×