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Coronavirus pandemic
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Coronavirus Hong Kong: Russian diplomat tests positive during home isolation, reigniting criticism of city’s quarantine exemptions

  • Man identified by source as Russia’s deputy consul-general tests positive during home confinement; health expert says exemption system puts communities at risk
  • Hong Kong confirms nine new imported Covid-19 infections on Friday, while five preliminary-positive cases are also logged

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A Russian diplomat’s positive Covid-19 test has prompted the overnight lockdown of Tower One of Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho. Photo: Google
Kathleen MagramoandElizabeth Cheung
A Russian diplomat who was exempted from hotel quarantine after flying into Hong Kong has tested positive for Covid-19, triggering a lockdown of his residential building and reigniting public concerns over the self-isolation privileges granted to certain groups of people.

The diplomatic status of the 55-year-old man, identified by a source as Russia’s deputy consul-general, allowed him to quarantine at home when he entered the city on October 5, but he was revealed on Friday to be a possible carrier of the L452R strain linked to more infectious Covid-19 variants such as Delta.

The preliminary-positive case, which emerged during the man’s home confinement, prompted the overnight lockdown of Tower One of Grand Promenade in Sai Wan Ho for mandatory testing, starting at 7pm.

The diplomat’s sample submitted on Thursday was found to have a so-called CT value of 15 to 16, suggesting a high viral load.

Respiratory medicine expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu said Hong Kong’s system of quarantine exemptions exposed a gap in the city’s coronavirus defences.

“Multi-storey [residential] buildings are not suitable for quarantine and so travellers need to be isolated in hotels or quarantine centres,” Leung said.

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