People wearing face masks walk on a street in south China's Hong Kong, March 5, 2022. (LO PING FAI / XINHUA)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 6,656 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections in the city since the pandemic began to over 2 million.
In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection said the new cases included 6,139 local infections and 517 imported cases. With Wednesday's figure, the running total of virus cases in the city reached 2,004,825, including 1,023,460 confirmed through nucleic acid tests and 982,365 by rapid antigen testing.
The Centre for Health Protection said the new cases included 6,139 local infections and 517 imported cases
Seven new reported deaths on Wednesday also brought the city's toll during the pandemic to 10,557.
The CHP said 14 residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities had 18 new cases while 665 schools reported 906 students and 169 staff members who tested positive for the virus.
Eighteen schools will suspend 21 in-person classes for one week due to infections.
As of Wednesday, a total of 42 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 15 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, one of BF.7 and 45 of BQ.1.1 were detected among local cases.
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The CHP added that 84.7 percent of new cases verified from Nov 7 to 13 were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
The Hospital Authority said in a separate statement that a total of 2,204 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were being treated in public hospitals as of Wednesday, including 322 new patients.The HA said 202 patients required oxygen therapy and eight patients needed ventilator support.
Thirty-eight patients were in critical condition, including 10 in intensive care, while 57 were in serious condition, the HA added.
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