Shek Kip Mei and Kennedy Town blocks under lockdown

The government has put two residential blocks in Shek Kip Mei and Kennedy Town under overnight lockdown on Thursday, after two residents tested preliminary positive for mutant strains of Covid-19.

In a statement, a spokesman said residents of Wing Chak House at Chak On Estate had to undergo mass testing, after a close contact of an imported case involving the Omicron coronavirus variant tested preliminary positive for Covid.

Separately, Block A of Hoi Tao Building on Belcher’s Street in Kennedy Town has also been sealed off.

“As a preliminary positive case who has lived in the above-mentioned building was detected today, and the preliminary test result involved a mutant strain, the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, so the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area after the test result was found to be positive”, the government said.

Officials said they plan to complete the two exercises by 7am on Friday.

Hong Kong has so far seen a total of 81 cases of the Omicron variant.
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Last updated: 2021-12-30 HKT 22:20