(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government will tighten the quarantine measures for air cargo crew members in view of the rising trend of imported COVID-19 cases with the Omicron variant.

Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Edwin Tsui told a press briefing this afternoon that the number of COVID-19 infections involving Omicron accounted for 35% of the imported cases two weeks ago and that figure rose to 95% over the past two days.

Given that Omicron is highly transmissable, Dr Tsui warned that the risk of a community outbreak is very high.

The Government will require air cargo crew members to undergo compulsory quarantine at a quarantine hotel for three days upon arrival in Hong Kong.

He said: “We have to balance between the risk of an infectious disease outbreak and the cargo operation.

“At present, we try our best to work with the airlines and also the Transport & Housing Bureau.

“And, we implement this measure of the three-day quarantine at a hotel, trying to intercept the cases once (airlines’ cargo crew) arrive (in) Hong Kong in the first three days.

“Of course, we will review the strategy and we will change the strategy if there is any new information.”