With the Covid-19 Omicron variant spreading across the globe the city has seen an increase in imported cases, among whom almost 80 percent carried the Omicron strain, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said on Monday.

Authorities enforced strict measures to stop the imported cases from going into communities and have held meetings on contingency measures before Christmas, Chan said. With more people returning to Hong Kong for Christmas and the New Year, the chief expected to see more imported cases and for cases to peak when New Year comes.

Chan visited Princess Margaret Hospital with Hospital Authority chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling and chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing.

Fan said the authority has prepared a contingency plan to ensure there will be enough hospital beds in case the fifth wave hits.

North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre has a capacity of 800 beds, while the HA Infectious Disease Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital can house 100 patients.

"There are more than 150 Covid-19 confirmed patients hospitalised in the two designated isolation facilities, alongside the high attendance of all public hospitals during the winter surge. We expressed our heartfelt appreciation to the healthcare workers who have stayed on duty during the festive season and worked very hard to treat patients, devoting themselves to the anti-epidemic works," he said.

If the need arises, the community treatment center at AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport can be relaunched to offer 500 beds.

The facility can cater to patients in stable conditions in North Lantau Hospital, meaning those with slight symptoms and no required treatment still need to be isolated, Ko said.

With the diversion, the North Lantau Hospital can focus on those just confirmed with Covid-19. Another 1,000 beds are available in other public hospitals.

More people seek consultation at accident and emergency departments of public hospitals as the winter peak for influenza approaches. He called upon people to offer support to the elderly and those with chronic illnesses amid the cold weather, and for those who have less severe symptoms to seek consultations at general outpatient clinics and private doctors so that they can avoid long queues at emergency rooms.

As of Monday midnight, nine public hospitals' internal medicine wards were running beyond their capacities. United Christian Hospital had the highest occupancy of 114 percent, whereas Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital were at 109 percent and 107 percent respectively.