People queue up to receive China's COVID-19 vaccines in south China's Hong Kong, Feb. 23, 2021. (LO PING FAI / XINHUA)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Thursday that it will stop offering COVID vaccines to non-local residents here for a short-term visit from Jan 16.
These visitors may get vaccinated at their own expense through private health institutes providing such jabs, according to a government statement.
For visitors who have received a COVID shot under the city’s Government Vaccination Program or hold an appointment before Jan 16, they may get their shot after having their records verified.
However, their limit of stay in the city must not be less than 30 days from their vaccination date.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong recorded 9,208 new COVID cases on Thursday as 74 new deaths brought the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 12,409, health authorities said.
The new cases comprised 8,916 locally acquired infections and 292 imported cases, said the Centre for Health Protection in another statement.
Thursday marked the sixth consecutive day that the number of new cases in the city fell. Hong Kong logged 9,279 on Wednesday, 9,379 on Tuesday, 11,641 on Monday, 14,113 on Sunday, 15,850 on Saturday, and 19,772 the day before, data show.
The CHP said a total of 24 care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities reported 26 infections affecting 25 residents and one staff member.
Altogether, 757 students and 111 staff members from 547 schools came down with COVID.
Among local cases, one more case of BF.7, three more of BQ1.1, and two more of XBB were detected.
From Jan 3-9, 2023, some 47.04 percent of COVID cases verified were related to the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant.