Coronavirus: Hong Kong building locked down after first infection involving mutant strain uncovered in community

Authorities cordoned off Parkes Building on 17-23 Parkes Street at 11.30pm for mandatory screening after a resident who tested preliminary-positive was found to be carrying a mutant gene of the coronavirus.

The lockdown was expected to end at 8am on Saturday, and those in the building were told to stay in their homes until all residents had been tested for Covid-19 and most of the results were ascertained.

A government spokesman said that because the preliminary test result involved a mutant gene and subdivided flats were common in the relatively old building, the risk of infection was “likely higher than usual”.

For that reason, “the government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the [building] immediately after the test result was found positive”, the spokesman said in a statement.

Hong Kong has recorded more than 210 infections involving coronavirus variants, all imported cases. The government did not reveal which mutation was involved and it was unclear whether the patient in the latest case had recently travelled.