New Covid-19 cases drop by nearly 100

By The SUN

 

Health officials say the number of Omicron infections is dropping slowly

Health officials reported 429 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, along with 13 related deaths. The daily infection tally is 94 less than Saturday’s figure.

Among these, 221 were confirmed by PCR tests while the remaining 208 were reported by people who took self-tests.

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A total of 19 imported cases were reported, including five passengers who came aboard flight QR818 from Doha, Qatar on Apr 23 and tested positive on arrival. The flight will be suspended for a week as a result.

Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection said the number of new cases is falling slowly although there is no indication of a rebound from the recent Easter holiday.

But he said authorities will have to observe the situation closely before deciding whether social distancing measures can be relaxed further.

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"Based on various parameters, the government will make risk assessments on the latest epidemic situation and adjust social distancing measures appropriately," he said.

Hung says anti-pandemic rules should be relaxed while post people have natural immunity

But earlier, a government health adviser said the authorities could consider speeding up the next relaxation of social distancing measures since more than half of Hong Kong’s population has already acquired natural immunity after contracting Covid-19.

Prof Ivan Hung from the University of Hong Kong cited a study made his university colleagues that showed about four million residents were infected in the Omicron outbreak, which gives them natural immunity from the coronavirus for up to a year.

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“So this will maintain for half a year, maybe a year. Therefore in these six months we have the condition to speed up the social distancing relaxation," Hung told reporters after appearing in a TV show.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said the next phase of relaxation of anti-pandemic rules will come only in late May.

The current regulations which allow only up to four people to gather in public, restaurants to open to dine-in services until 10pm, and most venues to reopen with 50% capacity, took effect only on Apr. 21.

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Hung said that if the total caseload dips to below 100, the government can ease the restrictions further as the chance of a rebound in cases would be very slim.

But he said the requirement for getting a booster shot by the end of May should be kept.

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He also said border restrictions including hotel quarantine and  flight suspensions should be kept until 90% of all the elderly and qualified children have had their first booster dose.

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