Citizens receive COVID-19 testing at a mobile testing station in a park in Hong Kong, south China, Feb 10, 2022. (LO PING FAI / XINHUA)
HONG KONG – The number of new COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong dropped for the second consecutive day to 7,286 on Monday, while 11 more COVID patients passed away, the health authorities said.
The 11 new COVID-related deaths brought HK’s toll since the pandemic began to 10,610, the Centre for Health Protection said
In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection said the new cases included 6,672 local infections and 614 imported cases. The city reported 7,736 cases on Sunday and 8,060 infections the day before.
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The imported infections on Monday comprised 413 cases that tested positive at Hong Kong International Airport, 117 during days 1 to 3, and 84 from day 4 to day 7.
The 11 new COVID-related deaths brought the city’s toll since the pandemic began to 10,610, the CHP added.
As of Monday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 223 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 12 of BF.7 and 34 of BQ.1.1 among the imported cases in Hong Kong.
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Meanwhile, 50 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 16 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, one of BF.7 and 64 of BQ.1.1 were also detected among the local cases.
Among the local specimens received by the PHLSB from Nov 12 to 18 for verification, 79.6 percent were linked to the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.