Covid cases top 3,000

By The SUN 

Increased mobility is said to be a factor in the rise in infections (File)

Health authorities reported 3,028 coronavirus cases on Thursday, the first time the daily tally breached the 3,000 mark since the Omicron surge began easing in April. The figure includes 172 imported cases.

The caseload is higher by 213 compared with yesterday’s figure.

The Centre for Health Protection warned that the rising number of infections could lead to more patients getting hospitalized or developing serious complications.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

"As the case number goes up, the number and proportion of hospital admissions will go up," warned CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan at today’s press briefing.

"There's a chance that hospitalisations, the need for intensive care and even the death toll may rise.”

Chuang said the World Health Organisation expects the more infectious BA.5 subvariant of Omicron to become the dominant Covid strain in many parts of the world, and the CHP is monitoring whether Hong Kong will be one of these places.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She said that globally, the number of patients found to carry BA.5 has grown from 37 percent to 52 percent of the overall infections, while those carrying BA.4 also increased from 11 percent to 12 percent. On the other hand, those with BA.2.12.1 infections have gone down.

In Hong Kong, an additional 17 cases carrying the BA.4 or BA.5 sub-variants were identified through genome sequencing, while 42 carried the BA.2.12.1 strain, including 28 which are untraceable.

Press for details

Among the imported cases, 98 were detected at the airport, and 49 of these came from the United Kingdom, indicating a worsening infection situation in the country. There were 57 other travelers who tested positive during quarantine while 17 were uncovered after completing their seven-day isolation.

The total infection figure from the fifth wave has now risen to more than 1.249 million, while the death toll went up to 9,194 after a 79-year-old female patient passed away yesterday.

A total of 201 infections were reported by 180 schools, involving 163 students and 38 teachers.

PRESS FOR MORE DETAILS

Two schools, Cannan Kindergarten and Ma On Shan Ling Liang Primary School were told to suspend a class each for a week because two or more infections were reported from there.

There are now 861 patients admitted in public hospital and treatment facilities. Among them, 12 are in critical condition, including one in intensive care; while 15 are in serious condition.

PADALA NA!

Call us!