Two Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Rooms Opposite Quarantine-Only Hotel for Arrivals
Both Infected Individuals Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19... Breakthrough Infection Cases Reported
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Emergency measures such as entry restrictions to curb the spread of the new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' are continuing worldwide. In Hong Kong, infection cases that allow estimation of Omicron's transmissibility have emerged, drawing the attention of the scientific community.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others on the 28th, Hong Kong authorities discovered two COVID-19 infected patients consecutively in a quarantine-only hotel for incoming travelers around mid-month.
The authorities estimate that the second patient was a secondary infection from the first patient. Notably, the two infected individuals stayed in rooms opposite each other across the hotel corridor, with no direct contact whatsoever.
The first infected patient, a 36-year-old who entered from South Africa, tested negative in a COVID-19 test conducted upon arrival in Hong Kong on the 11th, but tested positive in an additional test two days later.
The next infected individual, a 62-year-old Chinese man, arrived in Hong Kong from Canada on the 10th, entered quarantine, and tested positive on the 18th. At the time of their diagnosis, this infection case did not receive much attention as it was buried among many overseas COVID-19 import cases.
However, as concerns about the Omicron variant recently discovered in Africa grew, Hong Kong health authorities requested genetic testing of the two patients from the University of Hong Kong, which confirmed that both were infected with the Omicron variant. Consequently, Hong Kong authorities urgently imposed a ban on entry from South Africa and seven other countries starting from midnight on the 27th.
According to health authorities' investigation, the first patient was reportedly wearing a valve-type mask when briefly opening the door to receive food and stepping outside. It is suggested that the Omicron variant virus lingering in the corridor may have infected the second patient, who also briefly opened the door with a time lag.
Hong Kong authorities stated that both Omicron variant infected patients were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Both cases in Hong Kong are considered breakthrough infections.
Experts point out that this case suggests the Omicron variant may have very high transmissibility. Ancha Maranova, a biology professor at George Mason University in the U.S., expressed concern in an interview with TASS, saying, "The virus spread in Hong Kong under special circumstances," and "The level of transmissibility could be quite high."
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