There was a cluster outbreak on Emirates flight EK384, which arrived in Hong Kong on November 21. The Health Protection Center of the Department of Health announced today (2nd) that a total of 12 people have been diagnosed on the flight, and 11 of them have the same genetic sequence, which means they belong to the same Group.
The center estimates that a family of eight out of 11 people spread the virus to three other people in the cabin due to personal contact and shared toilets.
The center believes that passengers taking the flight may be at a higher risk of infection. There are currently 57 passengers still undergoing quarantine at designated quarantine hotels. The center will increase their number of tests during the remaining quarantine period and will carry out the test on the nineteenth day. Double mining and double inspection".
A local crew member had taken the flight. He was exempted from quarantine earlier and only had to self-quarantine at the hotel for 7 days. The center has now sent him to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center.
Emirates.
(Emirates website)
The Centre for Health Protection announced today that it is investigating three groups of imported cases (involving 11 people) who had previously taken the same flight EK384 and arrived in Hong Kong on November 21.
According to the whole genome sequencing conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service Division of the Department of Health, it was confirmed that some cases had the same genetic sequence, reflecting that the three groups may be epidemiologically related.
The flight was operated by Emirates Airlines EK384, which flew from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Hong Kong via Bangkok, Thailand on November 21.
Eight of the confirmed cases were from the same family who boarded the plane from Pakistan (cases 12411, 12412, and 12413 tested positive at the temporary sample collection center of Hong Kong International Airport when they arrived in Hong Kong; and cases 12437, 12438, 12439, 12443 and 12447 were diagnosed at Penny's Bay Quarantine Center).
Among the other three cases, Case 12420 boarded the flight in Bangkok and was diagnosed during the quarantine period of the designated quarantine hotel after arriving in Hong Kong.
The remaining two cases involved a couple who arrived in Hong Kong from India via Dubai (case 12429 was diagnosed during the quarantine of the designated quarantine hotel; case 12434 was diagnosed at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center).
Emirates.
(Profile picture)
Or infect each other in the cabin
According to the genetic sequencing analysis conducted by the Public Health Laboratory Service Division of the Department of Health, the 11 persons were all carrying the L452R mutant virus strain, and the whole genome sequencing analysis completed today confirmed the Delta mutant virus strain. Cases 12413, 12420, 12429, 12434, 12437 and 12438 The genetic sequence is the same, showing that the six patients may be epidemiologically related.
The center does not rule out that family groups involved in eight cases have the opportunity to spread the virus to the other three confirmed cases due to personal contact and shared toilets in the cabin.
There were a total of 74 passengers on the flight, of which 12 were diagnosed. One of them did not belong to the group (case 12423). The remaining 11 people belonged to the same group. Among them, a couple (cases 12429, 12434) arrived in Hong Kong from India via Dubai (cases 12429, 12434). Business class, and the remaining nine people take economy class.
Due to the fact that many passengers have been diagnosed after arrival in Hong Kong, the Department of Health has previously cited the Prevention and Control of Diseases (Regulation of Cross-Border Transport and Arrivals) Regulations (Chapter 599H) to prohibit passenger aircraft operated by Emirates from operating From November 23rd to December 6th, it will land in Hong Kong from Dubai and Bangkok.
Emirates.
(Getty Images)
Based on the latest epidemiological data, the center believes that passengers taking the flight may be at a higher risk of infection, and the center will adopt more prudent quarantine and testing arrangements.
Among the people who arrived in Hong Kong via this flight, except for four who were classified as close contacts of the above confirmed case and have been sent to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center for quarantine, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand are both designated areas in Group A (high risk ), all persons must undergo a 21-day compulsory quarantine at the designated quarantine hotel after arriving in Hong Kong.
Currently, 57 passengers are still undergoing quarantine at designated quarantine hotels. Three tests were conducted until yesterday (the 11th day), and the results were all negative.
The center will increase their number of tests during the remaining quarantine period, and will conduct a "dual collection and double inspection" on the nineteenth day to further verify their negative test results before they complete the quarantine.
"Dual collection and double inspection" means that two groups of samplers carry out sampling and collection of samples and testing by different laboratories.
Local crew members are exempted from quarantine and will now re-enter Penny's Bay for isolation
In addition, a passenger on the flight was a local crew member. As he was exempt from quarantine, he checked into a designated quarantine hotel after arriving in Hong Kong and completed self-quarantine on November 27. The center has sent him to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center. Accept quarantine until December 12.
However, the department was unable to specify the day when the crew member was sent to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center.
The center stated that the non-local crew members of the flight did not enter Hong Kong and have left Hong Kong.
The Centre has notified the Airport Authority of Hong Kong and relevant airlines to pay attention to the health of overseas crew members and thoroughly disinfect the aircraft.
The center will also ensure that relevant designated quarantine hotels comply with the designated infection control requirements at all times.
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The center emphasized that since the 11 related cases of the flight were diagnosed during the quarantine period at the airport temporary sample collection center, designated quarantine hotel or Penny's Bay Quarantine Center, there was no community transmission.
The center will take the most stringent prevention and control measures to prevent the mutated virus strain from flowing into the local community.
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