Residents enjoy sunbathing at a beach in the New Territories in Hong Kong on May 5, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Health authorities will require over 12,000 COVID-19 patients isolating at home to wear electronic bracelets to prevent them from going out into the community as Hong Kong registered 2,863 new cases on Monday, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said.
Lo said in a news briefing that 12,419 infected patients were isolating at home and their LeaveHomeSafe app will also show a “red code” to stop them from entering high-risk areas even if they remove their electronic wristband.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said 12,419 infected patients were isolating at home as of Monday and their LeaveHomeSafe app will also show a “red code” to stop them from entering high-risk areas even if they remove their electronic wristband
“These people have been infected and this is not a small number. Currently, there is no way to prevent them from breaking the law (by going out into the community),” Lo said.
“That’s why we are implementing the wristband and red code so that we can implement home isolation with precision,” he said, adding that these measures will be implemented “as soon as possible”.
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Lo said health authorities will also consider allowing arrivals from abroad to quarantine at home instead of hotels, but their LeaveHomeSafe app will show a “yellow code” that will prevent them from entering high-risk places.
He said they will review the data to see if this “more humane” form of quarantine could be implemented in the city.
Lo said Hong Kong had to implement anti-pandemic strategies “with precision” because the number of new cases and hospital admissions were increasing.
“From the start of June until yesterday, or within one month, the number of patients receiving treatment has increased from 300 or so to 957. The trend is rather obvious. It will exceed 1,000 very soon,” Lo said.
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“In view of the possibility of an impact to our healthcare system, we need to make the best preparations in the worst case scenario,” he added.
Hospital Authority Chief Manager Sara Ho said in the same briefing that the 957 confirmed patients being treated in public hospitals as of Monday included 121 new patients.
Seventeen of them were in critical condition, including five receiving intensive care, while 31 were in serious condition.
She said seven COVID-19 patients passed away, including four men and three women aged 65 to 90 years old. They all had chronic diseases like cancer and pulmonary ailments.
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“The epidemic has deteriorated. The number of patients in hospitals has been increasing. Last week, we had 700 patients with 20 plus in serious condition,” Ho said.
“But for this week, we have 900 patients in hospitals and about 50 in serious condition. This increase is very significant,” she added.
Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, also said at the briefing the new cases on Monday included 2,611 local infections and 252 imported cases.
She said 36 suspected Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 cases were detected, including 19 that were untraceable, while 19 BA.4 or BA.5 cases were also found.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Transport Rosanna Law Shuk-pui has tested positive for COVID-19 through an RAT test and is undergoing isolation following on CHP guidelines, a Transportation Department spokesman said in a statement.
Law last went to work on July 8 and has no recent travel history. She followed social distancing measures, including wearing a face mask and taking an RAT test regularly, he added.