HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s health authorities said yesterday that the new UK novel coronavirus variant has been found in Hong Kong.
After testing 11 samples from those returning from Britain recently, two of them – both from students – revealed the same new variant as that reported in the UK.
One of the students, 14, is still being treated in hospital while the other, who is 17, has been discharged. Authorities are following up on their close contacts.
“These two are the first two cases we’ve found in Hong Kong that have a new variant gene,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, at a regular press conference yesterday.
“According to the UK reports, they may be more infectious and a small proportion of COVID in general may have a very long incubation period, more than 14 days. That’s why we’re implementing 21 days’ rule for those coming back from the UK just to make sure they won’t spread [the virus] to the community.”
Health authorities yesterday reported 53 new COVID-19 cases.
Forty-seven were local infections, of which 20 could not be traced.
There were also more than 40 preliminary positive cases.
Meanwhile, a 77-year-old male patient confirmed with COVID-19 has died at Tuen Mun Hospital, raising the city’s death toll to 133.
Hong Kong’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 9,354 yesterday, according to worldometers.info, out of a population of a population of 7.5 million.
– RTHK, MPD
