Coronavirus: 3,000 cross-border travellers a day ‘doable’ when Hong Kong-mainland China border reopens; city awaiting results on possible first Omicron case in community
- The potential quota, which would significantly exceed earlier 1,000-person predictions, will also depend on Covid-19 outbreak situation in Guangdong
- Possible Omicron infection in Hong Kong involves a pilot who had recently returned to the city, but had spent only brief periods in the community
But the positive development on the long-awaited reopening came as the city on Thursday uncovered what may prove to be its first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in the community. The Covid-19 case involves a cargo pilot who tested preliminary-positive, triggering a lockdown of the Cheung Hing Building on Pitt Street in Yau Ma Tei.
The 36-year-old Cathay Pacific pilot, who was exempted from quarantine, had been in the community for brief periods while buying food and getting tested for Covid-19 before the positive result. A whole genome sequencing will be needed to confirm whether the pilot, whose viral sample carried two key mutations linked to Omicron, was indeed carrying the variant.
The government has issued compulsory testing notices for 12 premises the pilot had visited. Among them are eateries including a Café de Coral branch and an Extra Crispy Roast Goose King restaurant in Mong Kok, Red Tea in Yau Ma Tei, and cookedDeli at a City’super outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City shopping centre. Affected residents must get tested by Saturday.
A mainland source said a successful dry run earlier this month along with a stepping up of both manpower and technical capabilities meant that expanding the previously proposed quota was a real possibility.
“I would say that, given our preparations and testing, catering for a daily limit up to 3,000 as a start is doable, without any compromise in pandemic-control standards,” he said. “But the final numbers need to be confirmed at a later date.”
