A woman runs at a park in Hong Kong, May 5, 2022. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 1,198 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, including 122 imported infections, bringing the city’s tally to 1,216,529 during the city’s fifth wave of infections.
Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a news briefing that the 1,076 local cases included 429 that were confirmed through nucleic acid tests and 647 by rapid antigen tests.
Tuesday’s figure is lower than the 1,327 infections reported on Monday and the 1,276 cases on Sunday.
The 122 imported infections included 69 that were detected at the airport and 42 that were confirmed during quarantine, Chuang said, adding that 11 patients also tested positive after quarantine and were “likely repositives”.
There were 14 new suspected Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 cases while no new deaths were reported, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection
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Chuang said 143 students and 34 staff members from 144 schools reported being infected, including seven students from a basketball team and three students and a teacher of a Thai boxing class at St. Francis Xavier’s School in Tsuen Wan.
The basketball team members were asked to stop attending classes while Thai boxing class was suspended, Chuang said, adding no clusters were found.
She also said there were 14 new suspected Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 cases while no new deaths were reported.
“As for Macao, we are monitoring the situation. If necessary, we may have to adjust our entry requirements,” Chuang added.
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Hospital Authority Chief Manager Sara Ho said in the same briefing that there were 509 COVID-19 patients being treated in public hospitals, including 79 newly confirmed patients.
She added that 14 were in critical condition, including two in intensive care units, while 11 patients were in serious condition.