Among the cases, 1,645 were locally transmitted while the remaining 169 were imported cases, according to the Centre for Health Protection’s Chuang Shuk-kwan.

Meanwhile, 145 of the imported cases were detected at the airport, 37 at quarantine hotels and 14 were patients who tested positive after they completed the seven-day isolation. The caseload of the fifth wave now exceeded 1.24 million.

Chuang said, according to foreign experience, BA.4 or BA.5 spread relatively quicker than the current BA.2 subvariant and may become the main Covid strains
A total of 600 positive cases were reported by 421 schools, including 485 students and 115 staff members.

Four schools - Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School, Leung Kui Kau Lutheran Primary School, Tung Koon School (Sheung Shui) and Sam Shui Natives Association Huen King Wing School - had classes to be suspended for a week.

At the same time, two cases at Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School were found involving BA.4 or BA.5 subvariant.

Five more residential care homes reported new infections, including four residents and one staffer.

The center, on the other hand, identified 11 cases carrying the BA.4 or BA.5. One of them was a diner at Hotpot Foodie in Kwun Tong.

Thirty-four cases of the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant were reported today as well, of which 20 were of unknown origin.

Hospital Authority's chief manager Gladys Kwan Wai-man reported no new death and the death tally stands at 9,192.

Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 787 patients. Thirteen of them are in critical condition, 15 are in serious condition, and three are in hospital intensive care units.