Hong Kong Finds Suspected Local Omicron Case in Airport Cleaner

  • He’s set to be city’s first omicron case in a non-traveler
  • Only 4.3% in city have booster shots needed to fight omicron
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Hong Kong has detected a suspected omicron case in an airport cleaner, marking the first time the more infectious variant has jumped through the city’s fortress-like border controls and infected a person living in the community who hasn’t recently traveled.

The 64-year-old man who cleaned toilets designated for use by new arrivals thought to be infected with Covid-19 has himself tested preliminarily positive, according to the government statement. Initial tests suggest he is carrying the omicron variant, though whole genome sequencing is needed to confirm the findings.