Coronavirus: woman confirmed as third case of more infectious mutation in Hong Kong; BGI banned from running mobile screening stations after wrongly classifying 27 cases

Domestic helper recently arrived from Philippines found infected with virus bearing N501Y mutation

Testing firm BGI also loses right to run their mobile screening stations until inquiry into mistakes complete

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Pupils are screened for Covid-19 at a mobile testing point stationed at a school in Tai Wai. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 2:32pm, 23 Apr 2021Updated: 11:35pm, 23 Apr 2021

A domestic worker who recently arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines has been confirmed as carrying a mutation of the coronavirus, making her the third local case involving the more infectious strain.

The woman had completed quarantine at a hotel in Sai Ying Pun where two people staying in an adjacent room were confirmed as carrying the N501Y mutation, raising fears the virus had spread on the floor, health authorities said on Friday.

Official announced late at night that all people in the building where the woman’s employer lived in Mid-Levels needed to be evacuated and sent to quarantine.

“We can’t let down our guard on N501Y,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch. “Not every single case will cause a big community outbreak, but one case can still lead to that. We know N501Y is highly transmissive. Will a small amount of viral load cause a spread? I also don’t know.”

Authorities also revealed they had suspended the right of Chinese testing firm BGI to operate mobile screening stations after the firm was found to have wrongly labelled at least 27 people as preliminary-positive earlier this week.