Health authorities reported 8,999 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, including 131 imported ones, and added that a four-year-old boy who had received two Sinovac shots passed away in the morning.
Among the new cases, 8,868 were locally transmitted, including 2,185 confirmed via PCR tests and 6,683 verified positive RAT results. As for the imported cases, 62 were detected at the airport, 29 at quarantine hotels and facilities, and 40 in local communities.
Hospital Authority's chief manager for patient safety and risk management, Sara Ho Yuen-ha, recorded 15 deaths, including 10 men and five women aged between 50 and 102. Nine of the deceased patients were double-jabbed but had yet to receive the booster.
As for the late four-year-old boy surnamed Chan, Ho said the case will be passed to a coroner to determine the actual cause of death. Ho continued that Chan suffered from genetic disease and tested positive on Tuesday. He was first admitted to Tin Shui Wai Hospital and then Tuen Mun Hospital due to breathing difficulties.
Chan stayed in the children's isolation ward and remained in stable condition. However, the mother received a call from the hospital around 9am Friday that said the boy, who had received two Sinovac jabs in April and May, was in critical condition.
Chan's condition deteriorated very quickly, and eventually passed away. Other local reports said the mother couldn't even make it in time to say goodbye to her son and challenged if any party should be held accountable for negligence.
The mother also doubted that her son's condition would suddenly jump from stable to critical.
On this matter, Ho only noted that medics tried their best and stressed the case would be passed to a coroner.
Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said a total of 1,014 infections were reported by 656 schools today, involving 885 students and 129 teachers and staff members. The CHP has suspended 13 classes in 12 schools for a week.
Three elderly homes saw three residents infected with the
coronavirus as well. Four other residents were ordered to undergo quarantine.
When asked if the calculation of the
Covid death rate should be adjusted over the heated arguments among health experts recently, Chuang only replied that the rate has been dropping since May because of various measures by the SAR, including the vaccination program.
Public facilities are now housing 2,760
Covid patients. Among them, 51 are in critical condition, 57 are in serious condition, and 14 are in hospital intensive care. The HA added 360 have recovered from
Covid, and 333 have been discharged.