Among the new cases, 1,589 were confirmed via PCR tests, and the other 1,549 were positive rapid antigen test results reported by citizens, according to Albert Au Ka-wing from the Centre for Health Protection.

The official infection tally of the fifth wave stood at 1,161,929.

Au said another fresh Covid case was reported at a residential care home, involving a resident.

So far, the coronavirus has hit a total of 784 elderly homes, and 287 residential care homes for people with disabilities.

He said over the past week, around 200 elderly homes and 80 residential care homes for people with disabilities still have positive cases reported.

Meanwhile, among the cases confirmed via PCR tests, Au said 12 were imported from overseas.

Two of them were flight crew arriving from Korea and Germany yesterday on flights CX3641 and 3S532 respectively.

The other 10 were passengers, with two arriving from Korea on April 2, and six arriving on April 3 from the Philippines, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Spain, and Ireland. The remaining two were tested positive for the virus in their quarantine hotels after arriving in Hong Kong from Germany and Singapore.

Au added that Hong Kong has seen another 90 deaths in the past 24 hours, with the death tally of the fifth wave now stands at 8,049. The city’s Covid death rate was also maintained at 0.69 percent.

Hospital Authority's chief manager for quality and standards, Lau Ka-hin, reported 77 deaths logged by public hospitals in the past 24 hours, including 47 men and 30 women aged between 41 and 99.

Among them, 26 were residents of residential care homes, 65 were elderly aged above 65, and 62 were not fully vaccinated.

Lau reported another 8 Covid-related deaths aged 73 to 101 between March 3 to April 2 due to lagged results, as well as 5 cases reported by the morgue.