The SUN HK : CHP reports new variant being found in Regal Airport cases

By The SUN

The new variant was found in two men who stayed across each other at Regal Airport Hotel

The Centre for Health Protection has said a newly emerged variant has been detected in the coronavirus cross-infection that happened between two men who occupied rooms across each other at Regal Airport Hotel in Chek Lap Kok.

At the same time, the CHP reported six newly confirmed Covid-19 cases, including a newly arrived foreign domestic helper from the Philippines, an air crew from Russia and a one-year-old baby from Bangladesh.

All carried the L452R mutant strain, except for the Filipina DH who was strangely found to have both the N501Y and E484K mutations of the coronavirus, which were both first detected in the United Kingdom.

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The CHP statement issued today, Nov 25, said cases 12388, the 36-year-old male index patient who had flown in from South Africa, and 12404, the 62-year-old man from Canada, had highly similar genetic sequences.

The virus they carried reportedly belonged to the B.1.1.529 lineage, which has been found in South Africa and Botswana, reinforcing the finding that the younger man had infected the other patient.

“Scientific information on the public health significance about this lineage is lacking at the moment. It is classified by the World Health Organization as ‘Variants Under Monitoring.’ The CHP will closely monitor the latest developments,” said the statement.

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Previously, the mutant strain found in the men was identified by CHP as N501Y.

After experts reported on the cross-infection, the CHP said it arranged for 12 persons who had stayed on the same floor of the hotel as the two patients to undergo compulsory quarantine at Penny’s Bay for 14 days.

“No related case (has been) detected so far,” said the statement.

One passenger on Nepal Air flight tested positive while 3 did not follow pre-boarding rules

Meanwhile, Nepal Airlines flight RA409 from Kathmandu has been suspended from flying to Hong Kong for two weeks starting today.

This was after one of its passengers on Nov 23, a 32-year-old female returnee, tested positive on arrival, while three others on the same flight failed to comply with pre-boarding requirements.

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Among the other passengers is the infected FDH from the Philippines who is 35 years old, female, and flew in aboard Cebu Pacific flight 5J272.

The 45-year-old male air crew from Russia who also tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong airport had flown in via V4501, while the baby from Bangladesh was on his third day of quarantine at Grand City Hotel in Sai Ying Pun when he tested positive.

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The two remaining passengers are a 28-year-old man who came from France via CX206 and tested positive on arrival, and a 45-year-old man who flew in from Thailand and was found infected on his third day of quarantine at Best Western Hotel in Wan Chai.

They took Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally to 12,417 confirmed cases and one probable case.

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The CHP reminded the public that those who resided or worked in the same building as a local Covid-19 case involving a mutant strain will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21^st day.

The details of currently enforced CTNs and the relevant dates may be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).