The UK COVID Variant (VUI-202012/01) which is reportedly more transmissible has been circulating in the UK since at least September - and while more than 40 nations have banned travel to and from the UK over the past 72 hours in an attempt to contain it - it has already been reported in a handful of other nations (including Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy & Australia, etc.).
Given the low level of genetic sequencing of COVID samples around the world, it is likely the virus has already made inroads in many more countries, including the United States.
So it comes as little surprise that Hong Kong is investigating what appears to be two separate importations of the COVID variant. Given the relative success that many Asian nations have had in containing the spread of COVID-19, the introduction of a more transmissible strain is viewed with understandable concern.
This from the Hong Kong Govt new site.
Two cases of returning students from the UK suspected of being a variant virus
December 23, 2020
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( Click here to watch the sign language translation video of the entire briefing.)
There were 53 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, 47 of which were local infections, of which 20 were of unknown origin, and more than 40 were initially confirmed. The authorities stated that the viruses involved in the two earlier cases appeared to be identical to the new variant viruses. The patients were two students returning to Hong Kong from the UK.
Zhang Zhujun, director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health, said at a briefing today that there were 28 new patients and 25 women, aged between 8 and 86. Ten of them were found to be infected by the testing center.
Among them, two initially confirmed residents of Pingcheng Building, Pingtian Village, Lantian have been diagnosed. So far, a total of eight people in five units have been diagnosed. There are also a few preliminary positive cases. The patients are close contacts of the confirmed residents. The Protection Center will issue a mandatory test announcement, requiring building residents to accept mandatory testing.
There is a new case in Block 4 of Hong Sing Garden, Tseung Kwan O. So far, a total of five people from three units have been diagnosed. The source of two of the cases is unknown. The Department of Health has arranged to distribute sample bottles to residents.
Among the 27 related cases, Glow Spa & Salon Hong Kong, Yada Department Store, and Billy Sir Music Classroom group each added one case. The remaining 24 cases were related to other cases.
Zhang Zhujun pointed out that although the number of cases has fallen, the proportion of infections with unknown origin is high, which can cause group outbreaks. The public must be careful.
She mentioned that the Public Health Laboratory Service Office of the Center for the Protection of the People’s Republic of China conducted a genetic sequencing analysis for confirmed cases recently returned to Hong Kong from the UK. It has conducted 11 analyses and found that the virus genes of two confirmed students seem to be consistent with the new variant virus. The experts will further analyze.
Of the two students, one returned to Hong Kong alone, and the other returned to Hong Kong with three classmates. The student concerned has returned home after completing the 14-day quarantine. In view of the strong spread of the new variant virus, the authorities have arranged for the students concerned to go to the quarantine center for another seven days.
The government has set up a special webpage to provide relevant information and health advice on COVID-19.
