By The SUN
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| People who test positive are being encouraged to report it to the government platform |
Health authorities reported Friday that confirmed
Covid-19 cases dropped slightly to 2,492 but said that the number could go up
by tomorrow as the voluntary three-day rapid tests by residents began.
Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection
said that when he checked just before the press briefing, the number of
positive cases from rapid tests that were reported on the government platform
had gone up compared to previous days.
But he said the true picture from the exercise
may not emerge until after later because people are given two days to report their
positive test results.
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Au also said that while the reporting is
voluntary, those who test positive could benefit from letting the government
know about it so they can skip getting a
booster shot for Covid-19, for example, or for those with symptoms or at high-risk
to get immediately treated in hospital.
In addition, the government will get a “snapshot”
of the real infection situation in Hong Kong, he said.
He made his statement after being told that a survey conducted by a local newspaper showed 2/3 of respondents said they would not cooperate with the exercise, either because they didn't think it was useful, or they were afraid of being forcibly sent to isolation facilities.
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Au said that 1,227 of the new cases were
confirmed via PCR tests while 1,265 were reported by people who tested positive
in rapid tests.
Eight of the cases were imported, including three
who tested positive on arrival in Hong Kong. Two came in from Canada, and the
other from Korea. The rest were caught on the 3rd, 4th
and 7th day in quarantine, involving travelers from Ireland,
Germany, Australia and Singapore.
So far, more than 1.17 million people have been
confirmed with Covid-19 in the Omicron outbreak, while 8,430 have died, for a
fatality rate of 0.72 percent.
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A total of 86 deaths were reported for the day,
including 70 who died in public hospitals on Thursday. A further 16 patients
passed away earlier but their deaths were not reported on time.
Two relatively younger patients were among the
fatalities.
One was 45 years old and had cirrhosis of the
liver and hepatitis because of habitual drinking. He was admitted to hospital
on Mar 14 because he had difficulty breathing. He tested positive on admission,
and his condition deteriorated until he died Thursday. He had two vaccine
doses.
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Another was 60 years old who suffered from lung
cancer that had spread to his chest and bones. He was taken to the accident and
emergency department of a hospital complaining of shortness of breath. He
tested positive on admission, and died shortly after.
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Lau said 9,503 patients were receiving treatment
at public hospitals and infection control centres. Among them, nine were in
critical condition and 11 in serious condition.
A total of 1, 010 have
recovered and discharged.
