A passenger wearing a face shield travels on a ferry to the Kowloon side in Hong Kong on Dec 19, 2022. (PHILIP FONG / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 19,398 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, while 47 more patients passed away, the city’s health authorities said.
The new cases included 18,533 local infections and 865 imported cases, the Centre for Health Protection said in a statement. The city recorded 21,255 COVID infections on Sunday, 21,362 on Saturday, and 20,252 the day before.
With the 47 new reported deaths, the city’s toll during the current 5th wave of infections reached 11,296, the CHP said
With the 47 new reported deaths, the city’s toll during the current 5th wave of infections reached 11,296, the CHP said.
Forty residential care homes for the elderly and people with disabilities had 66 new infections involving 60 residents and six staff members.
As of Monday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had detected 226 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 13 of BF.7 and 38 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases.
It also found 154 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 18 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, 12 of BF.7 and 185 of BQ.1.1 among local infections.
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In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said a total of 4,665 COVID patients were being treated in public hospitals as of Monday, including 586 new patients.
The HA also said that 3,034 patients required isolation, 613 needed oxygen therapy, while77 required ventilator support.
There were 174 patients in critical condition, including 46 receiving intensive care, and 192 in serious condition, the HA added.
Meanwhile, Political Assistant to the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Ken Yip tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test on Monday and is undergoing isolation, accoridng to a government statement.
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Yip last went to work on Dec 23 and followed anti-virus measures, including wearing a mask and taking daily rapid antigen tests. He has no recent travel history.
Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Cheuk Wing-hing has been taking polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests or rapid antigen tests every day and the results are negative.