Infections to surge if Omicron BA.5 becomes most prominent strain, govt adviser says

Hong Kong is expected to see a hike in Covid-19 cases if Omicron BA.5 becomes the most prominent strain, government pandemic adviser David Hui Shu-cheong said.

Hui said on a TV program that the development of the pandemic depended on whether BA.5 will become the main strain. Citing the situation in Singapore, Hui said after BA.5 overtook other mutant Covid strains, the country saw the number of cases per day reach 10,000 at most.

Although more citizens will be infected, since most people have been vaccinated and the number of serious cases will not see a significant increase, he added.

Hui said the first generation of the Covid vaccine can still effectively reduce the risk of severe illness, hospital admission and death with three or four doses.

He continued that people aged 50 or above are already eligible to receive the fourth dose of the vaccines, adding that it may open to other age groups in the future.

However, he said whether to promote a new generation of vaccines against Omicron remains to be decided after reviewing more data. "It is prudent to continue using the first-generation vaccine for now as its T-cell function is still very effective, and three or four jabs of it can effectively reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death."