Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s daily infections surpass 4,000, health minister to meet pandemic advisers on Covid strategy
- Severe cases remain low, with 18 and 25 in critical and serious condition respectively, among total of 1,233 patients in public hospitals
- Days after call by experts to boost ‘hybrid immunity’ by easing curbs, health secretary Lo Chung-mau tells Legco that policies have to align with local situation
Hong Kong’s daily coronavirus infections have exceeded the 4,000 mark for the first time since a rebound in June, while the health minister has said he will meet pandemic advisers as soon as possible to discuss strategies on containing the latest surge in cases.
Despite the caseload reaching a new high, Dr Donald Li Kwok-tung, who will become chairman of the Elderly Commission on July 30, on Thursday dismissed the possibility of mandating vaccines for residents in care homes for the elderly, but said boosting the inoculation rate was a priority.
Hong Kong on Thursday logged 4,375 new infections, including 299 imported cases, and three related deaths. The city’s Covid-19 tally stands at 1,308,954 cases, with 9,448 linked fatalities.
The number of severe cases remained low, with 18 and 25 patients in critical and serious condition, respectively, among a total of 1,233 patients being treated in public hospitals.
“The number of confirmed cases has been increasing, but not as fast as what happened in February and March during the fifth wave,” Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said.
“But we observed that the trend has been gradually rising and [the caseload] doubled every two weeks. We have not seen a decreasing trend for the time being.”
Hospital Authority Chief Manager Dr Larry Lee Lap-yip said a trial of teleconsultation services for patients isolating at home was launched to ease the pressure on emergency rooms and Covid-19 designated clinics.