People wearing masks exercise in Hong Kong, south China, Feb 26, 2022. (LO PING FAI / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s health authorities recorded 17,080 new coronavirus infections on Thursday and 19 more people succumbed to the disease.

The daily caseload was 14,870 on Wednesday and 13,721 the day before.

Total 474 of the imported infections were identified at the Hong Kong International Airport, 277 detected from days 1 to 3 of their arrival, and the remaining 80 between days 4 and 7

Among Thursday’s new cases, 16,249 were locally acquired and rest 831 imported, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for the Department of Health said in a statement.

Total 474 of the imported infections were identified at the Hong Kong International Airport, 277 detected from days 1 to 3 of their arrival, and the remaining 80 between days 4 and 7.

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As of Thursday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had identified 226 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 13 of BF.7 and 38 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong, the CHP added.

Apart from that, 134 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 18 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, seven of BF.7 and 155 of BQ.1.1 were also detected among local cases.

The CHP also said that 57.62 percent of new cases verified from Dec 6 to 12 were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants.

READ MORE: HK sees 13,924 new COVID-19 infections, 23 deaths

Health chief in isolation

A spokesman for the Health Bureau said on Thursday that Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau is undergoing home quarantine as one of his family members has tested positive for COVID-19.

So far, Lo’s results from both rapid antigen tests and nucleic acid tests have all come back negative.