Hong Kong sees 13,074 new Covid cases, urges citizens to stay vigilant

Hong Kong reported 13,074 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, and health authorities reminded the public to stay vigilant as the infection numbers remain on a plateau without any sign of decreasing. 

Of the newly added cases, 5,732 were confirmed through PCR tests, including an imported case. The other 7,342 cases were positive rapid antigen test results reported by citizens. 

The Centre for Health Protection's principal medical and health officer Albert Au Ka-wing reported that the infection tally of the fifth wave of the pandemic has exceeded 1.08 million. 

Au also said one more elderly home and two more care centers for the disabled reported coronavirus outbreaks involving 38 residents and 23 workers. So far, this wave of Covid outbreak has hit 782 elderly homes and 284 care centers throughout the city, involving 1,260 residents and 257 workers. 

Hospital Authority's chief manager for integrated clinical services, Larry Lee Lap-yip, reported 201 deaths, pushing the death tally of the fifth wave to 6,557. 

Among them, 152 deaths involving 78 men and 74 women aged 24 to 106 were reported by public hospitals in the past 24 hours. Sixty-four deceased patients were residents of care centers, 103 had no vaccination record, and 140 were elderly people aged above 65. 

Lee also spoke of seven deceased patients who were comparatively younger, including the 24-year-old fully vaccinated man who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had been undergoing chemotherapy. 

The patient was admitted to the emergency room of Tuen Mun Hospital last Friday (Mar 18) and tested positive. He was also prescribed the oral Covid-19 drug Paxlovid. Yet, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away around 4am yesterday. 

Another younger death was a 45-year-old fully vaccinated domestic helper from Indonesia without any record of any chronic disease. She developed symptoms on Monday and was admitted to the emergency room of Kwong Wah Hospital the next day. 

She tested positive before being admitted to the hospital and remained in serious condition. She eventually passed away yesterday, and her case has been handed over to the coroner. 

Lee also added 42 deaths between March 1 and 21 due to lagged results. Seven deaths were reported by forensics as well, including five men and two women aged between 87 and 98. 

Public hospitals and treatment facilities are now housing 11,193 patients, and 1,385 recovered patients have been discharged.