Customers shop at a vegetable stall during a day of heavy rain in Hong Kong on June 8, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 672 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, as the authorities investigated 11 new local cases suspected to be the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said in a news briefing that 59 of the new cases were imported, including 27 that were found at the airport and 25 detected at quarantine hotels.

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She added 291 cases were confirmed through nucleic acid tests and 381 by rapid antigen tests.

The new infections brought the tally during the city's fifth wave of COVID-19 to 1,204,879.

Authorities are investigating 11 suspected local cases involving the mutated strain BA.2.1.2.1. Four of the cases were related to previous infections, including a 10-year-old boy living in One Homantin whose family members were confirmed infected earlier

Authorities are investigating 11 suspected local cases involving the mutated strain BA.2.1.2.1. Four of the cases were related to previous infections, including a 10-year-old boy living in One Homantin whose family members were confirmed infected earlier, Chuang said.

The source of origin of the remaining 11 cases are not yet known, including a 49-year-old man who lives in Ocean Shores in Tiu Keng Leng, a 41-year-old man residing in Tuen Mun Centre in Tuen Mun, and a 48-year-old man who lives in Homantin Estate.

Chuang said that the BA.2.12.1 infections, detected in Taikoo Shing and Wan Chai districts at first, are now found across the territory, including in Tuen Mun, Sheung Shui, Sha Tin, Fo Tan, and Tseung Kwan O.

“Only a small number of them were related to previous infecions while the rest were unlinked, indicating a certain number of silent transmission chains in the community,” she said.

But she added that patients infected with BA.2.12.1 mostly developed mild or no symptoms.

Chuang said the cluster at the Shuffle bar in Central had three more cases, increasing its total to 113, involving 107 patrons and six staff members. 

“We believe that getting jabbed is still an effective way in preventing serious illnesses and deaths."

There were 106 cases reported from 93 schools, involving 84 students and 22 teaching staff members. 

Lau Ka-hin, chief manager (quality and standards) of the Hospital Authority, said in the same briefing 374 COVID-19 patients are being treated in public hospitals, including 12 in critical condition and six in serious condition. No new deaths were recorded on Friday.

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Meanwhile, two cases each were detected during an overnight targeted testing operation at Lam Fai House of Lam Tin Estate in Kwun Tong and Yu Cheong House of Yu Ming Court in Tseung Kwan O, where a total of some 2,100 people underwent compulsory testing.