Category: Australia
New #coronavirus variant #B1525 with #E484K, #Q677H, #F888L and a similar deletions to #B117
International lineage with variants of biological significance E484K, Q677H, F888L and a similar suite of deletions to B.1.1.7.
Countries reported 2
Countries with sequences 10
Sequence count 102
Countries: Denmark 35, United Kingdom 32, Nigeria 12, United States of America 7, France 5, Ghana 4, Australia 2, Canada 2, Jordan 2, Spain 1
Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash
Australian quarantine hotel #coronavirus cluster rises to 20, linked to use of nebuliser by guest
Returned traveller blamed for Melbourne virus outbreak feels ‘like a criminal’ after being allowed to use nebuliser in quarantine hotel
The man had not tested positive to coronavirus when he used the nebuliser at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport.
Image by CarynB1968 from Pixabay
Genomic Evidence of In-Flight Transmission of #SARSCoV2 Despite Predeparture Testing
Evidence of in-flight transmission on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to New Zealand is strongly supported by the epidemiologic data, in-flight seating plan, symptom onset dates, and genomic data for this group of travelers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (passengers A–G). Among the 7 passengers, 2 (A and B) were probably index case-patients infected before the flight, 4 (C, D, E, and F) were probably infected during the flight, and the remaining passenger (G) was probably infected while in MIQ. All 7 passengers were seated in aisle seats within 2 rows of where the presumed index case-patient(s) were seated.
Combined, these data present a likely scenario of >4 SARS-CoV-2 transmission events during a long-haul flight from Dubai to Auckland. These transmission events occurred despite reported in-flight use of masks and gloves. Further transmission between travel companions then occurred after the flight, in an MIQ facility.
These conclusions are supported by genome sequencing, an in-flight seating plan, and dates of disease onset. These data do not definitively exclude an alternative exposure event, such as virus transmission at the Dubai airport before boarding (e.g., during check-in or in boarding queues). However, the close proximity of the relevant passengers on board suggests that in-flight transmission is plausible.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/3/20-4714_article
B.1.1.7 #Coronavirus #mutation also reported in Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Italy & Netherlands
“The governments of Australia, Italy and the Netherlands say they detected cases of the new strain. It was identified in the Netherlands in early December.
A few cases of COVID-19 with the new variant have also been reported to the ECDC, Europe’s disease monitoring agency, by Iceland and Denmark. Media reports in Belgium say cases have also been detected there.”
60 million confirmed #coronavirus infections globally, and the rate is still increasing
There have now been more than 60,000,000 confirmed coronavirus infections globally and the infection rate is still increasing.
Australia reports rare case of Covid reinfection
Australian authorities say they’re treating a Covid-19 case in the city of Melbourne as a rare reinfection
The only coronavirus case reported in the former hot spot of Victoria state on Tuesday had also tested positive to COVID-19 in July
Australia covid quarantine error means hundreds asked to take HIV test
Almost 300 people who went through a scandal-hit hotel coronavirus quarantine system in Victoria, Australia, must be screened for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to fears of cross-contamination from the incorrect use of blood glucose test devices.
Photo by Tai’s Captures on Unsplash
Two #COVID-19 cases found on ships in Western #Australia
Four ships with #coronavirus-positive crew members had arrived in Western Australian @WA waters in the past three weeks
