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Coronavirus: antibody tests on arrival could be Hong Kong’s next step in battle against variants, Carrie Lam says
- Centre for Health Protection studying when new screening should be introduced, will try to avoid creating ‘greater inconvenience’
- City confirms three imported Covid-19 infections – two from Colombia and one from Indonesia
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Health authorities may take blood samples for coronavirus antibody testing from arrivals at Hong Kong’s international airport under a proposal aimed at shutting out dangerous new variants, as the city tries to stave off a potential fifth wave of infections.
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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday said she supported the idea, also revealing that her government was considering ways to make it convenient for children to get vaccinated now that an advisory panel had backed extending the city’s inoculation programme to those as young as 12.
With just over 15 per cent of 7.5 million Hongkongers having received both vaccination doses until now – far short of the government’s 70 per cent target to achieve herd immunity – the private sector has been offering incentives to boost the take-up rate.
Tycoon Li Ka-shing’s companies and charity foundation joined the list on Tuesday, saying they would give out HK$20 million worth of shopping coupons through raffles.
In a continuing reflection of Hong Kong’s progress in tackling the pandemic, authorities confirmed three new Covid-19 cases – two brought in from Colombia and one from Indonesia. The city’s total number of infections now stands at 11,868, with 210 related deaths.
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