Probable Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Quarantine Hotel, Hong Kong, China, November 2021

Abstract

We report detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in an asymptomatic, fully vaccinated traveler in a quarantine hotel in Hong Kong, China. The Omicron variant was also detected in a fully vaccinated traveler staying in a room across the corridor from the index patient, suggesting transmission despite strict quarantine precautions.

Keywords: COVID-19; China; Hong Kong; Omicron variant B.1.1.529; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus disease; coronaviruses¸ viruses; quarantine hotel; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission; variant of concern; zoonoses.

Figure

Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant in 2 patients (cases A and B) in Hong Kong, China, November 2021. A) Phylogenetic time tree of Omicron nucleotide sequences using an early severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus sequence as a reference sequence (Wuhan-Hu-1/2019; GenBank accession no. MN908947.3). B) Comparison of Omicron variant mutations in case A to other variants; red indicates VOC and gray VOI (Appendix). Text colors indicate mutations found in NTD (blue), RBD (orange), FP (purple), and HR1 (green). Lane 1, case A; 2, Alpha (B.1.1.7); 3, Beta (B.1351); 4, Delta (B.1.617.2); 5, Gamma (P1); 6, Epsilon (B.1.427/429); 7, Eta (B.1.525); 8, Iota (B.1.526); 9, Kappa (B.1.617.1); 10, Lambda (C.37); 11, Mu (B.1.1.621); 12, Theta (P.3); 13, Zeta (P.2). E, envelope; FP, fusion peptide; HR1, heptad repeat 1; M, matrix; NSP, nonstructural protein; NTD, N-terminal domain; RBD, receptor-binding domain; S, spike; VOC, variant of concern; VOI, variant of interest.