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Published: 17:57, August 15, 2022 | Updated: 23:10, August 15, 2022
Hospital admissions 'worrying', as HK logs 4,896 new virus cases
By Wang Zhan
Published:17:57, August 15, 2022 Updated:23:10, August 15, 2022 By Wang Zhan

A driver takes a break after a sweltering journey at Sham Shui Po, Kowloon on July 24, 2022. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong recorded 4,896 new COVID-19 cases on Monday as the number of patients admitted in public hospitals rose to over 1,700, health authorities said.   

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said at a news briefing that the new cases comprised 197 imported cases and 4,699 local infections. Four new reported deaths brought the city's toll during the fifth wave to 9,356.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said at a news briefing that the new cases comprised 197 imported cases and 4,699 local infections

Chuang said of the 197 imported infections, 98 tested positive at the airport, 54 during their hotel quarantine, and 33 at community testing centers. Twelve were repositive cases.

She said 29 came from India, 21 from the United Kingdom, 14 each from the United States and Canada, 13 from Thailand, and 12 each from the Philippines and Singapore. The rest were from 32 other countries.

ALSO READ: HK records 4,979 new COVID-19 cases, 3 more elderly deaths

Chuang said 110 schools reported 111 students and 36 teaching staff members getting infected, with a school in Sha Tin suspending one in-person class for one week after it had three cases. Three residential care homes also reported new infections.

She said cases with the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 comprised 23.1 percent of the new infections while BA.2.12.1 cases accounted for 8.4 percent.

Lau Ka-hin, chief manager (quality and standards) of the Hospital Authority, said in the same briefing that the HA was “concerned” as the number of hospital admissions reached 1,783, including 230 new patients.

““We have 230 new patients today. We expect the number of cases to rise,” Lau said, adding that they would consider reserving 2,500 to 5,000 more hospital beds if admissions increase further.

“We are worried higher admission numbers will bring pressure on our public health care system,” he added.

ALSO READ: HK daily COVID-19 caseload tops 5,000 again, 3 patients die

One of the patients was a 27-month-old boy in critical condition and receiving intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital after he developed croup due to COVID.

Lau said the four new deaths involved men aged 63 to 91 years old. They also had underlying diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and other heart problems.

He added that one patient had lung cancer that had metastasized, and so his death might not be due to COVID, while another became unconscious at home and his heart stopped beating. His case was referred to the Coroner’s Court.

Meanwhile, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan urged parents to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible, according to a government statement.  

READ MORE: Shorter quarantine, ‘yellow’ health code for HK arrivals

Yeung visited Children Community Vaccination Centre at Hong Kong Children's Hospital and the Community Vaccination Centre at MTR Tsing Yi Station on Monday to inspect the first-day operation of the two vaccination centers, which both provide Sinovac and BioNTech jabs. 

"Parents must not overlook the serious symptoms that coronavirus can cause on their children, including encephalitis,” Yeung was quoted as saying in the statement.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan gives encouragement to a 2-year-old child who is receiving her COVID-19 vaccine jab while visiting the Children Community Vaccination Centre at Hong Kong Children's Hospital on Aug 15, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong Children's Hospital administers the Sinovac vaccine for children aged 6 months to 17 years, while children aged 5 to 11 can continue to receive the BioNTech vaccine there.

The CVC at MTR Tsing Yi Station provides the Sinovac vaccine to persons aged 6 months or above, and gives the BioNTech shot to persons aged 12 or above.

“Only by receiving vaccination can help people minimize their risks of falling seriously ill, death or severe after-effects should they get infected,” Yeung said. “Parents of children aged 6 months to 3 years should arrange their children to receive the Sinovac vaccine now so that they can have the protection conferred by the vaccine early."






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