A total number of 3,444 cases were reported from 1,169 schools, involving 2,864 students and 580 teaching staff.

“It is predictable that cases in schools see an increasing trend due to the new academic semester started,” said Au Ka-wing, the Center for Health Protection's principal medical and health officer, calling on students not to forget to do the daily rapid antigen test.

“The government is not willing to suspend the in-person class mode again since it is of significance to students’ physical and mental health,” he said, noting more measures will be introduced to enhance the disease prevention on the campus.

“I hope that citizens pay more attention to personal hygiene and reduce gatherings among families as far as possible during the Mid-Autumn Festival in order to protect public health,” claimed Au.

Six care homes for the elderly reported cases of infected residents, as well as one care home for the disabled. A total number of 35 people in care homes were listed as close contact and needed to take the nucleic acid test.

Hospital Authority said 197 staff were diagnosed with Covid while 121 employees have returned to work after being discharged from hospitals, said Larry Lee Lap-yip, Chief Manager (Integrated Clinical Services) of the Hospital Authority.

People infected with the BA.4/5 variant account for nearly 67.9 percent of all patients.

Public hospitals now accommodate 2,915 new Covid-19 patients, including 396 newly admitted.