Hong Kong records two cases of new variantThe Hong Kong government said Thursday that it had detected two cases of a new variant identified in South Africa, which scientists have warned shows a "big jump in evolution" and could limit the effectiveness of vaccines. (Hong Kong requires almost all overseas arrivals to quarantine in hotels for two to three weeks.) The presence of the new variant may complicate efforts to reopen the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. Mainland officials have said that Hong Kong is not doing enough to control the virus, even though the city has recorded just two locally transmitted cases in the past six months. On Thursday evening, Hong Kong’s No.2 official, John Lee, said mainland officials had told him earlier in the day that Hong Kong had "basically fulfilled" the conditions to reopen the border.

Source: Bangkok Post November 26, 2021 09:37 UTC