Expert says third wave likely originated from imported cases or quarantine exemptions

University of Hong Kong faculty of medicine dean, Gabriel Leung Cheuk-wai, said the third wave of coronavirus epidemic in Hong Kong could have originated from imported cases and people exempted from quarantine such as aircrew members and seafarers.

He said after analyzing some of the viral genome sequence in confirmed cases, it was found that the current wave was not linked to the "invisible transmission chains" in May and June.

As for the need of imposing a lockdown, Leung said if the number of cases in clusters climb again, then the government will have to take action in one or two days.