Coronavirus: Hong Kong vaccine bookings surge on back of HK$10.8 million flat lottery; 1 imported infection confirmed

On Friday 10,500 people reserved Sinovac slots, the highest since March 17, with 15,100 for BioNTech also a strong figure over a three-week span

Officials reiterate call for public to get vaccinated, as health minister warns future supply may be short, and civil service chief says outbreak could erupt any time

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Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong have waned but officials warn an outbreak could happen at any time. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 1:07pm, 29 May 2021Updated: 11:59pm, 29 May 2021

Bookings for Covid-19 vaccinations in Hong Kong, especially for the Chinese-made Sinovac jab, have surged significantly on the back of a HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million) flat lottery offered by tycoons.

On Friday, more than 10,500 people reserved Sinovac slots – the highest since March 17 – with the same number again making a booking on Saturday.

Some 17,700 bookings on Saturday for the BioNTech jab was one of the best showings within a four-week span for the German-made vaccine, the Post found.

The uptick in vaccination rate came as the city confirmed one imported coronavirus case from Indonesia on Saturday. The patient, a 42-year-old woman, arrived on Friday last week and tested positive for the virus on her seventh day of quarantine in a hotel.

Fewer than five preliminary-positive cases were reported on Saturday. The latest confirmed infection pushed the official tally to 11,837, with 210 related deaths.