Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
First patient Covid-19 Botswana variant in Hong Kong suspected of transmitting the virus to a second person due to wearing a mask with an air valve.
Hong Kong Radio Television (RTHK) reported that this allegation emerged after a microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong, Yuen Kwok Yung, released the results of his investigation on Thursday (26/11).
The investigation showed the mask the patient was wearing contributed to the transmission of the coronavirus to the second patient through the air.
Hong Kong did report two cases of the Botswana variant of Covid-19. The Hong Kong Center for Health Protection (CHP) confirmed the new variant was carried by a 36-year-old man who flew from South Africa on November 11.
On arrival, he tested negative for Covid-19. Two days later, he underwent another test and tested positive for Covid-19.
The man is suspected of transmitting the virus to another man who lives in the room next to him. They were then quarantined separately at the Regal airport hotel, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong.
After detecting the 2 cases, 12 people who lived in three rooms near their room from November 1 to 14 were required to undergo a two-week quarantine at the Penny’s Bay Center Quarantine Center.
Since then, the Hong Kong government has also banned the use of masks with air valves or breathing holes during quarantine in hotels. The mask is said to be ineffective at filtering gusts of air from outside.
The government has also suggested that air purifiers be installed in quarantine rooms in hotels if guests wish to exercise.
“(To) remove aerosols generated during exercise,” the Hong Kong government said in a statement, as quoted by The Straits Times.
Experts state that the mutation rate of the corona virus B.1.1.529 is very high. They are also concerned that this variant has the potential to weaken the efficacy of the current Covid-19 vaccine.
Ravi Gupta, a professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge University, said research in his lab found two mutations in B.1.1.529 were poorly recognized by antibodies.
This is a sign that the antibodies that have been built by the Covid-19 vaccine are less able to recognize and fight the Botswana variant of the corona virus.
“This mutation is indeed a concern. However, the main thing to look at is the transmission ability of the virus. Because this is what drives the Delta variant (explosion). (The ability) to evade immunity is only part of the picture of what might happen,” Gupta said.
This variant itself was first discovered in Botswana on 11 November. At that time, the Botswana Ministry of Health reported four cases of the B.1.1.529 variant. All of these patients had received complete vaccinations.
On November 14, South Africa recorded the first findings of the Botswana variant of Covid-19. According to South Africa’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases, there have been 22 cases of the new variant detected in the country to date.
(isa/has)
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