Pedestrians walk past a stall selling Christmas decorations in Hong Kong on Dec 2, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong recorded 9,508 new COVID-19 cases on Monday while 20 more infected patients passed away, health authorities said.
In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection said the new cases comprised 8,843 local infections and 665 imported cases. There were 9,487 cases on Sunday.
The 20 new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the current fifth wave of infections to 10,613, the Centre for Health Protection said
The 20 new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the current fifth wave of infections to 10,613, the CHP added.
It said 27 residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities had 55 new cases, up from 39 infections on Sunday.
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One thousand schools reported 2,577 students and 459 staff members getting infected since Friday
while 22 schools suspended 23 in-person classes for a week due to new cases.
As of Monday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had identified 225 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 13 of BF.7 and 36 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong.
It added that 104 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 18 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, four of BF.7 and 121 of BQ.1.1 had also been detected among local cases
The CHP said that 70.16 percent of new cases verified from Nov 26 to Dec. 2 were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
READ MORE: HK COVID caseload crosses 10k mark again as 13 die
In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said a total of 2 993 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were being treated in public hospitals as of Monday, including 411 new patients.
The HA said 318 patients required oxygen therapy while 17 patients needed ventilator support.
Seventy patients were in critical condition, including 21 in intensive care, while 82 were in serious condition, the HA added.