Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 1,536 Covid patients, of which 171 are new cases. The condition of the 35-month-old boy’s improved, and he has left the intensive care unit.

Schools in Hong Kong reported 549 cases, with 14 schools suspending some classes.

The age for receiving the covid-19 jab was lowered to six months from three years old according to the decision by the Department of Health and its scientific committee. Two kinds of vaccinations are authorized for use, including BioNTech and Sinovac, for the recently emerging infant covid cases.

Infants can get the same dose as adults of the Sinovac vaccine while they must receive one-tenth of the adult dose for BioNTech, said Lau Ka-hin, Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Quality and Standards).

Young children between six and three months can get jabs from Thursday (August 4). People aged 50 to 59 who have received three doses can also get the fourth dose of BioNTech or Sinovac from Thursday or the date after at least three months of receiving their last dose.

Citizens can make reservations online via the booking system for the vaccination and get their jabs at community vaccination centers or designated clinics by the Hospital Authority from 9am on Thursday.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is said to announce the shortening of the quarantine period soon, to reduce the inconvenience for people traveling overseas. While the exact shortened quarantine period is still pending review according to the epidemic and daily cases reported.

People returning to Hong Kong from abroad can arrange quarantine at home rather than in a hotel, suggested Ho Pak-leung, Hong Kong University’s Department of Microbiology professor.

“These people can be issued with a health code with yellow color for them to be identified during the quarantine period, which allows them to go outside within a limited range,” Ho added, “except some specific places which need them to remove their mask.”