People wearing face masks walk out of the subway at Hung Hom in Hong Kong, south China, Aug 13, 2020. Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 3,480 new cases of COVID-19 on Jan 28, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong saw a total of 3,480 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday as 33 more patients more passed away, the health authorities said.

Of the new cases, 3,362 were local infections and 118 were imported, according to a statement from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health.

With Saturday’s deaths, a total of 13,313 people with COVID-19 have passed away in Hong Kong since the start of the pandemic, the Centre for Health Protection said

Hong Kong reported 2,335 cases on Friday and 2,401 on Thursday. The city’s daily cases had ranged between around 2,000 to a little over 2,700 from last Saturday to Friday.

Nine cases, all residents, were reported from eight residential care homes for the elderly and persons with the disabilities, according to the CHP.

As of Saturday, the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch had detected 227 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 40 of BQ.1.1, 14 of BF.7, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, six of XBD, and one of XBB.1.5 among imported cases.

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There were also 218 cases of BQ.1.1, 198 of XBB, 46 of BF.7, 18 of XBD, eight of XBB.1.5, and one of BA.2.75.2 found among local cases, the CHP said.

With Saturday’s deaths, a total of 13,313 people with COVID-19 have passed away in Hong Kong since the start of the pandemic, the CHP said.