HK Sees First Mutant Covid Strain From South Africa

The Centre for Health Protection announced on Thursday that Hong Kong has seen the first mutant Covid-19 strain being imported from South Africa.

The case involves a 29-year-old man who came back to the SAR earlier this month. Authorities say he's in a stable condition, and a friend who came back with him who also tested positive for the virus has not carried the mutant strain.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority said it is following up on the death of a patient at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a day after receiving blood from a donor who tested positive for Covid-19.

The authority’s chief manager, Sara Ho, said a donor who gave blood on December 17 has tested positive for the coronavirus.

His blood platelets were given to a critically-ill patient at the hospital on December 20, who died the following day.

Ho said while it is highly likely that the patient died from his original illness, a thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause of his death.

“In fact, he has serious underlying disease, that’s why he needed platelets transfusion. The cause of death is likely related to his underlying disease and the case was already referred to the coroner and the coroner will conduct the relevant investigation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ho said public hospitals have been asked to further beef up security, after a coronavirus patient was able to briefly leave the isolation ward of Eastern Hospital.

Ho said the elderly patient ventured out of the hospital for around an hour on Wednesday before hospital staff found him with at a nearby bus stop accompanied by a member of the public.

“We have reminded the frontline security staff to pay additional attention to the patients’ move. And also at the same time, we deployed additional security staff to the emergency room… in case there is any need, we will report to the police for further assistance,” she said.

Hong Kong on Thursday reported 68 new Covid-19 cases, 62 of which were locally acquired.

There are also more than 40 preliminary positive cases, including a patient assistant who works in an isolation ward at Tuen Mun Hospital.

Six patients who were fed by the assistant in a general ward, along with several of her colleagues, will be quarantined.