Omicron Spreads Across HK Hotel Hallway, CCTV Footage Shows No One Left Their Rooms

Follow us on Whatsapp for the latest updates Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates

Omicron Spreads Across HK Hotel Hallway, Signals Possible Airborne Transmission

As medical experts and scientists continue researching the Omicron variant, new discoveries about it are being made every day.

Recently, it was noted that the Omicron variant may have spread across the hallway of a hotel in Hong Kong. What was worrying was that the 2 individuals did not leave their room, nor have contact with one another.

Thus, health authorities fear that the Omicron variant could be airborne.

Omicron spreads across HK hotel hallway despite no contact between patients

According to Bloomberg, the Omicron variant spread between 2 fully vaccinated travellers across the hallway of a Hong Kong quarantine hotel.

Source

Upon checking the CCTV, footage showed that none of the infected persons left their rooms, nor had any contact. Health authorities are unnerved by how easily transmitted the virus seems to be.

In a study published on Friday (3 Dec) in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases by the researchers at the University of Hong Kong, it was noted that airborne transmission was the most probable mode of spread.

The transmission could’ve happened when respective doors were opened for food collection or Covid-19 testing, the authors posited.

Due to the “unprecedented” number of mutations in the spike protein, it has raised concern that the Omicron virus could evade vaccine-induced protection. Hence, this might worsen a surge in Covid-19 cases and delay the opening of economies.

Around 450 researchers around the world have begun urgent studies to understand to what extent Omicron’s mutations could affect vaccine effectiveness and increase transmissibility. A World Health Organisation (WHO) scientist said the global effort may yield answers in a few days.