People visit a fresh food market in a residential estate in Hong Kong on March 18, 2022. (DALE DE LA REY / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 20,082 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, down from 21,650 on Thursday, as the total number of infections in the city's fifth wave of pandemic crossed the 1 million mark.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a news briefing that the new cases comprised three imported infections and 20,079 local cases.

Hong Kong's infection tally in the fifth wave has risen to 1,004,313, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection

She said 7,966 were confirmed through nucleic acid tests and 12,116 by rapid antigen tests.

The new additions brought the infection tally in the fifth wave to 1,004,313, including 666,048 detected through nucleic acid tests and 338, 265 by RAT, she said.

She added the imported cases included one traveler from Vietnam and another from Indonesia. Both were detected at the airport upon their arrival on March 17. 

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At the same briefing, Under Secretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi said recent infections have stabilized but remained at a high level. He called on members of the public not to let their guard down and to abide by social distancing rules.

"Reducing infection, severe cases and deaths remain our focus at the current stage," he said.

Lau Ka-hin, chief manager (quality and standards) of the Hospital Authority, said in the briefing that 206 patients aged between 25 and 106 died over the past 24 hours. There were also 53 deaths from March 1 to 16 that had not been reported earlier due to lagging in statistics.

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The total number of deaths in the fifth wave of the pandemic has risen to 5,188, with an overall mortality rate of 0.5 percent.

The government clarified that Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan has not made any announcement on the implementation date of compulsory universal testing and a lockdown

Lau again expressed gratitude to mainland medical workers who came to Hong Kong to help take care of COVID-19 patients.

"The first batch of medical officers and nurses have familiarized themselves with the workflow of the Hospital Authority and have started their work at the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo," Lau said.

The team worked in close loop management and are transported between their hotel and the center on dedicated vehicles. 

He said the mainland workers work continuously for four hours wearing protective gear without drinking water or taking any rest during their shift. 

"Hong Kong and mainland medical workers will work together to provide the best care for COVID-19 patients," he added.

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Also on Friday, the government clarified that Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan has not made any announcement on the implementation date of compulsory universal testing and a lockdown.

The Transport and Housing Bureau made the clarification in response to a commentary published by a local media organization that claimed the implementation of a lockdown and compulsory universal testing was previously announced by Chan.