January 30, 2023
HONG KONG – Hong Kong recorded 3,283 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday as the territory was set to scrap isolation arrangements for infected persons effective Monday.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier announced that those testing positive for the virus will no longer be required to submit their personal data through the online self-reporting platform for COVID-19 patients run by the Department of Health starting January 30.
The compulsory isolation arrangement for infected persons will also be cancelled and the health officer will no longer issue isolation orders to infected persons
The compulsory isolation arrangement for infected persons will also be cancelled and the health officer will no longer issue isolation orders to infected persons.
The health officer will also cancel active isolation orders and those currently under isolation can go out starting Monday. The government will arrange for those staying in the isolation facilities to leave in an orderly manner.
Lee said this decision was based on the fact that the city’s inoculation rates for the second and third vaccine doses have reached 93 percent and 84 percent respectively.
Moreover, since the fifth wave of the pandemic, many residents have developed some immunity to the coronavirus. Overall, the Hong Kong community already has a strong level of immunity, Lee said.
In a statement, the Centre for Health Protection said new cases on Sunday included 3,172 local cases and 111 imported infections. The territory saw 3,480 new infections on Saturday, 2,335 on Friday, and 2,401 on Thursday.
The 20 new reported deaths brought the city’s toll during the current fifth wave of infections to 13,120, the CHP added.
Twelve residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities recorded 13 residents testing positive for the coronavirus.
As of Sunday, 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.
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.
The CHP added that 37.33 percent of new specimens verified by the PHLSB were linked to the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said 2,019 patients who tested positive for the virus were being treated in public hospitals, including 140 were new patients.
The HA said 922 patients required isolation, 298 needed oxygen therapy and 43 had ventilator support. It added that 93 patients were in critical condition, including 28 in intensive care, and 89 in serious condition.