This picture taken on Dec 23, 2022 shows people waiting in the arrivals hall of Hong Kong International Airport. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong recorded 3,793 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as 56 more patients passed away, health authorities said.
In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection said the new cases comprised 3,684 local infections and 109 imported cases. There were 3,843 new cases reported on Tuesday, 4,653 on Monday, 6,261 on Sunday and 7,749 the day before.
The Centre for Health Protection said 15 residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities had 25 new infections involving 23 residents and two staff members
The 56 new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the current fifth wave of infections to 12,752, the CHP added.
It said 15 residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities had 25 new infections involving 23 residents and two staff members.
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The CHP added that 319 schools reported 373 students and 57 staff members getting infeccted with the coronavirus.
As of Wednesday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had identified 227 cases of XBB, 38 of BQ.1.1, 13 of BF.7, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, six of XBD and one of XBB.1.5 among imported cases in Hong Kong.
There were also 213 cases of BQ.1.1, 187 of XBB, 37 of BF.7, 18 of XBD, four of XBB.1.5, and one of BA.2.75.2 detected among local cases, the CHP said.
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It added that 41.77 percent of specimens verified by the PHLSB were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.