A passenger takes photos on a Star Ferry on Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on May 4, 2022. (PETER PARKS / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong has allowed patients infected with the Omicron subvariant BA.5 to isolate at home, since their symptoms were not more severe, as the city recorded 3,805 new cases on Wednesday, health authorities said.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a news briefing that the new cases included 180 imported infections and 3,625 local cases. One infected person died in an apparent suicide, bringing the city's toll to 9,235.  

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a news briefing that the new cases included 180 imported infections and 3,625 local cases

“The trend is on the rise. Today’s figure is higher than yesterday’s or the day before,” Chuang said. “We would like to urge the public to maintain vigilance and wear masks and follow social distancing measures.”

She said those infected with the BA.2.12.1, BA.4 or BA.5 subvariants will no longer be sent to isolation facilities since their symptoms were not more severe than those with the dominant BA.2.2 subvariant. 

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“We have not detected any major difference in severity,” Chuang said, adding that their common symptoms were fever and a sore throat. 

"The WHO (World Health Organization) said that, although currently BA.5 is the most transmissible strain of Omicron and is on its way to replacing all the other subvariants..they have not spotted any abnormal severity," she said.

Like other COVID patients isolating at home, those infected with any of the three subvariants will also wear electronic wristbands to prevent them from going out to the community.

Chuang noted that the three subvaraints were “spreading at a slower rate than expected” due to government anti-pandemic measures.

As of July 18, the Public Health Laboratory has detected 1,093 BA.2.12.1 cases in the city and 372 BA.4 or BA.5 infections. 

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Chuang said that the imported cases on Wednesday included 48 from the United Kingdom, 15 from the United States, 15 from Canada, 14 from the Philippines, 13 from Thailand, and 11 from India.

She said 299 schools reported 364 cases involving 293 students and 71 staff members. Two classes in two schools were suspended for one week after one had five cases, including two from one family, while the other had three cases.

Larry Lee Lap-yip, chief manager (Integrated Clinical Services) of the Hospital Authority, said at the same briefing that the patient who passed away was a 67-year-old man who had hypertension and diabetes. He tested positive on July 16.

According to a statement issued by the Correctional Services Department, the man was on remand at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre when he committed suicide by hanging on Tuesday night. 

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He was taken to a hospital but was declared dead at 11:32 pm. Lee said the case was referred to the Coroner’s Court.

Lee also said that 1,207 patients being treated in public hospitals as of Wednesday, including 146 new patients.

Seventeen of them were in critical condition, including five receiving intensive care, while 32 were in serious condition, he added.