John Lee's Covid Exposure

Lee may have caught Covid-19 at the Apec Summit in Bangkok

Yesterday many people were squealing with glee upon hearing the news at Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu tested positive upon arrival at the airport after returning from Bangkok at the Apec Summit.

He is currently in isolation (at home) and had to cancel a meeting with the Executive Council today.

Lee met with Xi in closed-door sessions

"John Lee Ka-chiu expressed gratitude to the concerns from different sectors of society," a spokesman for the Chief Executive Office said. 

"He has a mild fever this afternoon and a slight sore throat. Although he was a bit tired, he was generally all right. His doctor had prescribed oral pills for him," he added.

Lee had received his fourth vaccine dose (probably not the bivalent vaccine) in September. 

His close contacts, his secretary and director of the Chief Executive Office will also have to undergo home quarantine. However six staff who accompanied Lee on his trip do not need to isolate themselves.

Then there was the realisation that Lee had sat next to Chinese President Xi Jinping in closed-door sessions where they both took off masks. Lee also sat next to Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese ambassador to Thailand, Han Zhiqiang.

There was no word on the health status of Xi... who has been very quiet since...

Meanwhile health experts like David Hui Shu-cheong are playing down Lee's infection, saying he had been testing negative throughout his trip so his viral load should be low...