A man walks along the promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong on July 25, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 4,683 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday as the daily caseload exceeded 4,000 for the 10 consecutive day.
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Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said at a news briefing that the new cases comprised 4,490 local infections and 193 imported cases.
She also said four more patients had passed away, bringing the tally during the fifth wave of the pandemic to 9,289.
A joint scientific committee under the Centre for Health Protection will meet on Monday to decide on whether to recommend vaccine jabs for children below 3 years old, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection
One of the patients had developed a fever and soon collapsed at home. The 92-year-old, who also had heart disease, was certified dead upon arrival at the hospital and his death has been referred to the coroner, Chuang said.
The other three patients were aged between 65 and 88. The three women had also suffered from chronic diseases like hypertension, breast cancer, asthma and Parkinson's disease.
Chuang said Hong Kong has seen a gradual increase in the number of COVID cases over the past few weeks, putting hospitals under pressure.
She called on members of the public who had not received three doses of vaccine to do so as soon as possible. She also urged people who developed COVID symptoms to seek medical consultation.
Chuang added that a joint scientific committee under the Centre for Health Protection will meet on Monday to decide on whether to recommend vaccine jabs for children below 3 years old.
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A 22-month-old girl infected with COVID-19 remains in critical condition at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on Saturday. The baby girl had suffered seizures and brain edema on Wednesday.
Gladys Kwan, Chief Manager (Clinical Effectiveness and Technology Management) of the Hospital Authority, said in the same briefing that 1,456 COVID patients were being treated in public hospitals as of Friday, including 187 new patients. Seventeen were in critical condition, including nine in intensive care, and 22 in serious condition.