A new year greeting message is displayed on a digital billboard at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong on January 2, 2023. (CHINADAILYHK.COM)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 19,722 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, up from 18,422 the day before, as 55 more patients passed away, health authorities said.
The new cases comprised 19,527 local infections and 195 imported cases, the Centre for health protection said in a statement. The city logged 16,423 new cases on Wednesday, 16,186 on Tuesday, and 20,230 the previous day.
Of the195 imported cases, 52 were confirmed through nucleic acid tests and the remaining 143 by rapid antigen tests
Of the195 imported cases, 52 were confirmed through nucleic acid tests and the remaining 143 by rapid antigen tests.
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The 55 new deaths brought the city’s toll during the pandemic to 12,204, including 11,911 deaths during the current fifth wave of infections, according to the CHP..
Across the city, total 32 residential care homes for the elderly and people with disabilites filed COVID infections involving 48 residents and four staff members.
The CHP said 840 schools reported that 1,486 students and 305 staff members who tested positive for COVID-19.
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From Dec 28, 2022 to Jan 3, 2023, around 53.51 percent of verified COVID cases in the city were linked with the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant.