Coronavirus infections in Hong Kong remain below 10,000 mark for third day, as experts call for end to testing orders at residential buildings
- Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of Centre for Health Protection says authorities will closely monitor infection trend, despite cautious optimism
- Dr Jaime Rosa Duque of the University of Hong Kong recommends children get two doses of either the BioNTech or Sinovac vaccines
Hong Kong recorded 7,938 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, after hitting 11,091 last week. Despite the fall in infections, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said the government would keep a close eye on the downward trend.
“Indeed it looks like the numbers are showing signs of dropping, but we have to monitor it closely, as we are not sure if it’s related to the holiday, whether there will be a rebound after it, or BA.5 has peaked, which sits at 68 per cent [of daily cases] right now,” she said.
Health authorities previously said BA.5, a more transmissive strain of the Omicron variant, had contributed to the city’s recent surge in cases.
Monday’s caseload included 166 imported infections and the city also reported 11 more deaths. Hong Kong’s overall tally now stands at 1,659,912 cases and 9,810 related deaths.
Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority revealed that a 10-year-old boy with epilepsy was critically ill after contracting Covid-19. His symptoms included fever and croup, a condition caused by respiratory infections and characterised by a hoarse voice and difficulty breathing.
The boy, who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine, was being treated in the intensive care unit at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung.