Coronavirus: Cathay Pacific crew member among 9 new imported cases in Hong Kong as health chief warns of tighter rules if fifth local wave hits

Health minister Sophia Chan says authorities are ready to tighten measures, including testing, quarantine and social distancing, if fifth wave of local infections hits

Six of the latest imported cases carried mutated strains of the virus, including five with elements consistent with highly transmissible Omicron variant

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Hong Kong confirmed nine new coronavirus cases on Sunday, all among arrivals on inbound flights. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 4:49pm, 26 Dec 2021Updated: 1:30am, 27 Dec 2021

Hong Kong confirmed nine new imported coronavirus cases on Sunday including a Cathay Pacific aircrew member whose infection triggered mandatory testing of all residents in his Tung Chung building, while the Omicron variant unleashed worldwide travel chaos over the Christmas weekend with thousands of flights cancelled.

A day after the city recorded 25 imported infections, health minister Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the government was ready to tighten any necessary measures – including testing, quarantine, treatment and social distancing – in the event a fifth wave of local cases struck.

In a post on her blog she urged those who were most likely to come into contact with the virus, such as airline and airport staff, to get booster shots.

“We strongly suggest airport staff, aircrew members and quarantine hotel staff get their third jabs of the vaccine to protect themselves and their families,” Chan said.

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Asia-Pacific countries adopt varying approaches to dealing with Omicron coronavirus variant

Six of the latest cases carried mutated strains of the virus, including five with elements consistent with Omicron, though officials have yet to confirm if those patients were infected with the more highly transmissible version of Covid-19.