Coronavirus: one local, 15 imported Covid-19 cases confirmed; Hong Kong health experts wary of post-Easter rebound

Fewer city residents typically visit doctors over holiday periods, notes HKU Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, who received his second jab of the BioNTech vaccine in the morning

Monday marked the resumption of the German-US vaccine’s roll-out after a 12-day suspension that followed the discovery of defects in some vials

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Hong Kong families were out enjoying the Easter holiday on Sunday, prompting fears of a potential uptick in Covid-19 cases. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 12:22pm, 5 Apr 2021Updated: 11:31pm, 5 Apr 2021

Hong Kong on Monday confirmed 16 new coronavirus infections, of which one was locally transmitted, but top infectious disease experts warned the city could be hit by another surge of cases after large gatherings over the Easter break.

The local case, involving a 32-year-old man, was untraceable. Six of the 15 imported cases were from the Philippines, five from India and the other four from Pakistan. The city’s official tally stood at 11,524, with 205 related deaths. Three preliminary-positive cases, all imported, were recorded.

University of Hong Kong Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, who received his second dose of the BioNTech vaccine as its roll-out resumed in the morning, said he expected cases to rise, as fewer residents typically visited the doctor over holidays, leading to more undetected infections.

He also noted the crowds enjoying the long holiday across the city.

“Everyone needs to get vaccinated soon so we can reach 70 per cent herd immunity … otherwise, when it comes to going for holidays overseas or work, we might not be able to resume that even as the year ends,” Yuen said, after receiving his booster jab at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre.

Distribution of BioNTech shots was abruptly suspended on March 24 on the advice of distributor Fosun Pharma after the city’s frontline staff identified more than 50 defects in vials – including cracks, leaks and exterior stains. The vaccine was jointly developed by Germany’s BioNTech and US-based Pfizer.

About 5,200 people received their first dose of the BioNTech vaccine and roughly 6,500 their second dose when distribution resumed on Monday.

Overall, about 487,000 people, or 6.5 per cent of the city’s population, have so far received their first vaccine dose. Another 90,200 people, or 1.2 per cent of the population, have taken their second jab and were fully vaccinated.