Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s mystery Alpha variant case thought to be linked to food packaging in patient’s home – but expert says lead could be dead end
- Latest developments in 17-year-old girl’s case, which involved the more virulent Alpha variant, come as city confirms two imported infections, both from Indonesia
- Boarding and quarantine requirements for arrivals from Indonesia will be tightened from Monday because of ‘persistent unstable epidemic situation in the region’
High hopes had been pinned on the environmental test results to finally confirm the origin of the 17-year-old schoolgirl’s infection that broke the city’s 42-day streak of zero untraceable cases. But the girl’s admission signalled a false dawn, according to one health expert, who suggested “self-contamination” was behind the coronavirus findings in the family’s fridge.
The latest development in the case, which involved the more virulent Alpha variant, came as the city confirmed two imported infections from Indonesia on Tuesday, prompting health officials to tighten quarantine rules for arrivals from that country. The two cases brought the official tally to 11,880, with 210 related deaths. Fewer than five people tested preliminary-positive for the virus.
On June 5, the teen had tested positive for the variant, first found in Britain. Her mother and sister were later also found to have contracted the virus.
On Monday, government adviser Professor Yuen Kwok-yung said authorities and scientists were investigating three possible sources of transmission for the girl – people, rats or other animals, and items such as frozen food.
Officials took more than 60 environmental samples from places such as the family’s home in Tin Shui Wai, as well as from a pet shop and a unit at Tak Wing Industrial Building where the 17-year-old had been. Three samples were taken from the freezer compartment of the patients’ fridge.