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Friday, Apr 26, 2024
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Health authorities say they have no criteria for closing schools as Covid cases reach 3,256
Health authorities said they have not set a certain number of cases needed before closing a school as a whole, as Hong Kong reported 3,256 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.
Among the new cases, 3,019 were locally transmitted, including 1,217 confirmed via PCR tests and 1,802 verified positive RAT test results, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.
The other 237 infections were imported cases, 122 detected at the airport, 89 at quarantine hotels, and 26 in local communities after the patients completed seven-day isolation.
The Hospital Authority reported four related deaths, including a man and three women aged 90 to 99. The death tally of the fifth wave now stands at 9,231.
The center was also informed of 498 positive cases involving 408 students and 90 teachers and staffers. Eight schools have classes to be suspended for a week after the students and teachers caught Covid.
They included Church of Christ in China Kei Wai Primary School (Ma Wan), Zenith Kindergarten, Hong Chi Morninglight School, Tuen Mun, Ho Dao College Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen, Saint Thomas' Church Kindergarten, Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wah San Secondary School, C.C.C. Chuen Yuen College, and Hong Kong Ling Liang Church Kindergarten.
In addition, Hong Kong and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung Primary School and S.K.H. Holy Spirit Primary School reported cases earlier and had another class suspended.
Asked whether face-to-face classes would be suspended entirely, Chuang said the average proportion of confirmed cases at schools was about the same as in the community.
To avoid the risk of transmission and a major outbreak in schools, classes will be advised to stop face-to-face teaching if they saw several cases. However, no such number is set for the closure of an entire school.
Three elderly homes reported new infections involving three residents. They included Fai To Home for The Aged (Tuen Mun) Branch, Lok Seen Aged Hostel, and Friendly (TuenMun) Home for The Aged.
On the other hand, the center reported 56 cases of the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant and 30 cases of the BA.4 or BA.5 subvariants.
Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 1,190 Covid patients. Among them, 20 are in critical condition, 41 are in serious condition, and seven are in hospital intensive care units.
The other 237 infections were imported cases, 122 detected at the airport, 89 at quarantine hotels, and 26 in local communities after the patients completed seven-day isolation.
The Hospital Authority reported four related deaths, including a man and three women aged 90 to 99. The death tally of the fifth wave now stands at 9,231.
The center was also informed of 498 positive cases involving 408 students and 90 teachers and staffers. Eight schools have classes to be suspended for a week after the students and teachers caught Covid.
They included Church of Christ in China Kei Wai Primary School (Ma Wan), Zenith Kindergarten, Hong Chi Morninglight School, Tuen Mun, Ho Dao College Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen, Saint Thomas' Church Kindergarten, Yan Chai Hospital Wong Wah San Secondary School, C.C.C. Chuen Yuen College, and Hong Kong Ling Liang Church Kindergarten.
In addition, Hong Kong and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung Primary School and S.K.H. Holy Spirit Primary School reported cases earlier and had another class suspended.
Asked whether face-to-face classes would be suspended entirely, Chuang said the average proportion of confirmed cases at schools was about the same as in the community.
To avoid the risk of transmission and a major outbreak in schools, classes will be advised to stop face-to-face teaching if they saw several cases. However, no such number is set for the closure of an entire school.
Three elderly homes reported new infections involving three residents. They included Fai To Home for The Aged (Tuen Mun) Branch, Lok Seen Aged Hostel, and Friendly (TuenMun) Home for The Aged.
On the other hand, the center reported 56 cases of the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant and 30 cases of the BA.4 or BA.5 subvariants.
Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 1,190 Covid patients. Among them, 20 are in critical condition, 41 are in serious condition, and seven are in hospital intensive care units.
