People walk across a footbridge in the Central business district of Hong Kong on Sept 15, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s panel of vaccine experts is reviewing BioNTech’s application for its COVID-19 jab for infants as the city recorded 5,687 new cases on Wednesday, health authorities said.
Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a media briefing that the joint scientific committee will make its recommendation to Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau.
The imported cases came from 39 places, including more than 10 each from the UK, Thailand and the Philippines
“We’ve already received the application from BioNTech when it comes for vaccines for young children and the case is being considered by the joint committee,” Chuang said.
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She said the new cases on Wednesday included 5,541 new local infections and 146 imported infections. Nine new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 9,764.
The imported infections came from 39 places, including more than 10 cases each from the UK, Thailand and the Philippines.
Chuang reported that 526 schools logged a total of 760 new cases, involving 647 students and 113 teaching staff members.
She said Li Po Chun United World College recorded 15 cases in total from two classes and the whole school had to be closed for a week.
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Gladys Kwan, chief manager (Medical Grade) of the Hospital Authority, said in the same briefing that the nine COVID-related deaths involved seven males and two females aged from 66 to 92. Seven of them were not fully vaccinated.