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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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HK sees 1,860 Covid cases, refuses to disclose details on top officials' infections
Hong Kong reported 1,860 new Covid-19 cases on Friday as health authorities kept their lips sealed when asked about details of the infections of incoming top government officials.
Among the new cases, 1,721 were locally transmitted including 610 confirmed via PCR tests and 1,111 verified positive RAT results, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.
The remaining 139 cases were imported from overseas, including 67 detected at the airport, 57 at quarantine hotels and 15 patients who completed seven-day isolation and entered communities.
The caseload of the fifth wave has exceeded 1.22 million, and the death tally remains at 9,185 without adding new death to the tally.
The government on Thursday night announced that the incoming Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki under John Lee Ka-chiu's administration, and incumbent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai have been infected with Covid-19 and are now undergoing quarantine.
When reporters asked if the infections of Chan and Tsang involved the Omicron subvariant or could be linked to any private gathering, Chuang only said she will not disclose information about certain individuals.
Chuang also sidestepped the question of whether authorities will lift the quarantine order for Chan and Tsang early ahead of the July 1 celebrations and the inaugural ceremony for Lee's cabinet.
She defined the term “close contacts” as people who live with the confirmed patients and those who participated in the same activities as the patients without their masks.
The outbreak cluster at Victoria Harbour Restaurant in Tuen Mun saw seven more diners and three more close contacts caught Covid, amounting to 37 infections in total. All 19 environmental samples collected there tested negative and over 270 guests who had been to the restaurant on June 19 were ordered compulsory quarantine.
The center was also informed of 199 positive cases from 163 schools, involving 164 students and 35 teachers and staffers.
Class 4C of S.K.H. Bishop Baker Secondary School in Yuen Long added three more cases and was ordered to suspend classes for a week. The basketball team of St. Francis Xavier's School, Tsuen Wan reported a new infection, as well as St. Stephen College in Stanley.
Chuang spoke of 21 more suspected cases carrying the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant, including six unknown source cases.
Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 552 Covid patients. Among them, 10 are in critical condition and 11 in serious condition, and two staying in intensive care.
The remaining 139 cases were imported from overseas, including 67 detected at the airport, 57 at quarantine hotels and 15 patients who completed seven-day isolation and entered communities.
The caseload of the fifth wave has exceeded 1.22 million, and the death tally remains at 9,185 without adding new death to the tally.
The government on Thursday night announced that the incoming Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki under John Lee Ka-chiu's administration, and incumbent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai have been infected with Covid-19 and are now undergoing quarantine.
When reporters asked if the infections of Chan and Tsang involved the Omicron subvariant or could be linked to any private gathering, Chuang only said she will not disclose information about certain individuals.
Chuang also sidestepped the question of whether authorities will lift the quarantine order for Chan and Tsang early ahead of the July 1 celebrations and the inaugural ceremony for Lee's cabinet.
She defined the term “close contacts” as people who live with the confirmed patients and those who participated in the same activities as the patients without their masks.
The outbreak cluster at Victoria Harbour Restaurant in Tuen Mun saw seven more diners and three more close contacts caught Covid, amounting to 37 infections in total. All 19 environmental samples collected there tested negative and over 270 guests who had been to the restaurant on June 19 were ordered compulsory quarantine.
The center was also informed of 199 positive cases from 163 schools, involving 164 students and 35 teachers and staffers.
Class 4C of S.K.H. Bishop Baker Secondary School in Yuen Long added three more cases and was ordered to suspend classes for a week. The basketball team of St. Francis Xavier's School, Tsuen Wan reported a new infection, as well as St. Stephen College in Stanley.
Chuang spoke of 21 more suspected cases carrying the BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant, including six unknown source cases.
Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 552 Covid patients. Among them, 10 are in critical condition and 11 in serious condition, and two staying in intensive care.
