Hong Kong adds 20,082 Covid cases as official caseload exceeds one million

Hong Kong reported 20,082 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, pushing the official caseload of the fifth wave of the pandemic outbreak to over one million. 

Among the new cases reported today, 7,966 patients were confirmed through PCR testing, and 12,116 cases were positive rapid antigen test results reported by citizens. Only three cases were imported from overseas, including one from Indonesia and two from Vietnam. 

Over one million cases have been reported amid the fifth wave of Covid pandemic, including 666,048 cases identified via PCR testing and 338,265 cases through rapid antigen tests, said Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection. 

Infection outbreaks were reported at seven more care centers for the disabled and three more elderly homes, involving 89 residents and 47 workers. 

Hospital Authority's chief manager for Quality and Standards, Lau Ka-hin, reported 259 related deaths, including 206 deaths recorded in public hospitals yesterday, involving 122 men and 84 women aged 25 to 106. 

Of them, 126 were above 65, and those who were comparatively younger, including the 25-year-old one, all suffered from chronic diseases. 

Chuang added 53 deaths between March 1 and Wednesday as well due to lagged results, including 30 men and 23 women aged from 62 to 103. 

She also said forensics reported six deaths involving two men and four women aged from 57 to 92, who passed away between February 28 and March 6. 

The death tally of the fifth wave now stands at 5,188 and the overall death rate at 0.5 percent. The deceased patients involved 2,030 women and 3,158 men, aged from 11 months old to 112 years old. Of them, 58 percent were elderly home residents, and 70 percent were seniors aged above 80. 

In the past 24 hours, 1,074 recovered patients have been discharged from hospitals. Sixty-five patients are in critical condition, 115 are in serious condition. Among all of them, 115 are staying in intensive care units.