Hong Kong reports 1,347 new Covid-19 cases, another 2,000 tested preliminary positive

Hong Kong reported 1,347 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases on Sunday, while another 2,000 people tested preliminary positive. 

Among the new cases, 1,345 were local infections. There were 1,283 Omicron cases and another 14 Delta ones. 

As of Saturday, Hong Kong has seen a total of 8,300 local Covid-19 cases, including 55 percent who received two vaccine jabs. Fourteen percent were aged below 18, while 11 percent were older than 65. 

Hospital Authority's chief manager for integrated clinical services, Larry Lee Lap-yip, said four people are in critical condition. They included a three-year-old girl, and three elderly people aged 80, 84, 97 respectively. 

Public hospitals are running beyond their capacities are isolation facilities are filled, Lee said. To ensure the public medical system would not collapse, the vulnerable and patients in serious conditions will be prioritized when it comes to isolation beds in hospitals. 

Patients in stable condition will be moved from North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre to community treatment center at Asia World-Expo. Young people and people with slight symptoms are asked to wait patiently at home, and to call a hotline to seek advice in treatment.

Non-emergency services at hospitals will be dramatically reduced, and regular services may be suspended, Lee said. 

Lee admitted that thousands of people are still waiting at home, and there is no time table for their hospitalization. They are urged to stay inside their rooms and avoid eating together with their family members.