A man walks through the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Hong Kong on Nov 18, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 7,736 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday while 13 more infected patients passed away, health authorities said.

The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement that the new cases included 7,212 local infections and 524 imported cases. The reported 8,060 new cases on Saturday.

The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement that the new cases included 7,212 local infections and 524 imported cases

The 13 new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the pandemic to 10,599, the CHP added.

It said 17 residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities had 27 new cases while three schools had to suspend one in-person class for a week due to infections.

As of Sunday, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had identified 223 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 12 of BF.7 and 34 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong.

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Fifty cases of sub-lineage XBB, 16 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, one of BF.7 and 64 of BQ.1.1 have also been found among local cases.

The CHP added that 80.5 percent of new cases verified from Nov 11 to 17 were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.

In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said that a total of 2,423 patients who tested positive for COVID-19  were being treated in public hospitals as of Sunday, including 281 new patients.The HA said 238 patients required oxygen therapy and nine patients needed ventilator support. 

Forty-two patients were in critical condition, including 12 in intensive care, while 55 were in serious condition, the HA added.

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