Pedestrians walk along the promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong on July 25, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 6,445 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, as the Hospital Authority said it would activate 200 beds at its community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo to cope with the increase in confirmed cases.
The new cases comprised 6,260 local infections and 185 imported cases, Albert Au Ka-wing, principal medical and health officer of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing.
Friday’s daily caseload, which topped 6,000 for the second day in a row, is the highest since April 1.
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Au said that of the 185 imported cases, 25 came from the UK, 19 from India, 16 from the US, 14 each from the Philippines and Thailand, and 11 from the South Korea.
The new cases comprised 6,260 local infections and 185 imported cases, Albert Au Ka-wing, said principal medical and health officer of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch
Au added that 47 schools reported 54 students and 15 teaching staff getting infected.
Larry Lee Lap-yip, chief manager (Integrated Clinical Services) of the Hospital Authority, said eight COVID patients passed away, bringing the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 9,384.
The patients who died included seven men and a woman aged 61 to 93 years old. They also suffered from chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and prostate cancer.
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Lee said seven of them had not completed the vaccination course while four of them had no vaccination record.
There are currently close to 2,000 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment at public hospitals. Lee said in order to cope with the increase in number of patients, the Hospital Authoritit will activate 200 beds at its community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo.
He expressed worry on the increase in number of patients in serious and critical condition, with over 80 percent of them being elderly patients.
He added that the COVID situation may worsen as the ratio of the more transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.4 and 5 increased and called on member of the public to remained vigilant.
Kai Tai facilities open
Also on Friday, the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility commenced operation, admitting about 60 COVID-19 patients with no or mild symptoms.
The facilities, managed by the Security Bureau's anti-epidemic task force, provide over 2,700 units in total including some large rooms formed by combining two or three units for use by big families. There are also accessible units for persons with disabilities.
The occupancy rate of another community isolation unit at Penny's Bay has reached nearly 80 percent, accommodating over 6,500 occupants currently, according to the government.