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Coronavirus pandemic
Hong KongHong Kong economy

Coronavirus: Hong Kong confirms 14 new imported cases; Cathay Pacific gets 2-week ban for Toronto and Los Angeles routes after infections among passengers

  • Tests also confirm another 12 Omicron infections among earlier patients, bringing the city’s tally of variant to 70
  • Cathay Pacific routes from Los Angeles and Toronto hit with two-week suspension after carrying four and three imported infections respectively

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Hong Kong-based air cargo crew must now quarantine for three days in a designated hotel. Photo: Sam Tsang
Zoe Low,Tiffany LiangandElizabeth Cheung
Hong Kong confirmed 14 new imported coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with flights from Toronto and Los Angeles operated by the city’s flagship carrier suspended for two weeks after carrying infected passengers.
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Tests also confirmed an additional 12 Omicron infections among earlier patients, bringing the city’s tally of the variant to 70.

Wednesday’s new cases were imported from the United States, the Philippines, France, Britain, Singapore, Germany, Australia, Canada and Spain. Eleven involved mutant strains consistent with Omicron, pending confirmation.

The latest infections brought the city’s overall tally to 12,618, with 213 related deaths. Fewer than 15 preliminary-positive cases were reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl among Wednesday’s infections triggered a compulsory testing notice for her residential block in Pok Fu Lam after she returned from the US on Sunday. She had left the city on December 15.

The Centre for Health Protection also said two Cathay Pacific routes from Los Angeles and Toronto would be hit with a two-week suspension after carrying four and three imported infections, respectively. The temporary ban starts on Wednesday until January 11.

The recent flouting of home quarantine rules by two Cathay Pacific crew members helped bring an end to the practice. Photo: Nora Tam
The recent flouting of home quarantine rules by two Cathay Pacific crew members helped bring an end to the practice. Photo: Nora Tam

With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly and more arrivals from various countries required to serve an initial four days of quarantine at the government’s Penny’s Bay facility on Lantau Island, it announced on Wednesday foreign domestic helpers would no longer complete their isolation there.

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