Extra 100,000 cases held back by reporting snag

Hong Kong could expect to see at least 100,000 more positive cases from rapid tests that had yet to be reported to authorities as the Centre for Health Protection announced another record high of 56,827 infections.

With the daily caseload surpassing 50,000 for the second day, 144 patients aged 42 to 102 died on Wednesday, another record for single-day fatalities.

The Centre for Health Protection's principal medical and health officer, Albert Au Ka-wing, said all but two of the new cases were locally transmitted.

So far, more than 337,900 Hongkongers have been infected in the fifth wave, Au said.

But the number doe not reflect the actual situation as the number of patients who have tested positive in rapid antigen tests at home is not included in the tally because the government has yet to launch the online platform for them to report their infections.

"Among patients who had positive results after undergoing the PCR tests, two-thirds of them had symptoms. The proportion of [symptomatic patients] is relatively high. We believe many patients with mild or no symptoms didn't do PCR tests," Au said.

"As we are now promoting the rapid tests, those asymptomatic patients would test positive and we expect to see over 100,000 patients reporting their infections when the platform is launched."

He said the platform will be online "in due course" amid technical difficulties.

Au said 37 care homes - 21 for the elderly and 16 for the disabled - had infections yesterday involving 434 residents and 132 staff.

Around 710 care homes have seen infections, with 4,100 residents and 1,300 staff having been infected since December 31 last year.

The chief manager of integrated clinical services of the Hospital Authority, Larry Lee Lap-yip, said most of the 144 patients who passed away on Wednesday were elderly. Among them, 124 were not vaccinated, 10 received one jab and 10 received two doses.

The list included a disabled 42-year-old man suspected to have contracted the virus while being treated at Siu Lam Hospital. He was transferred to the internal medicine department at Siu Lam for treatment before passing away.

Another relatively young patient, a 54-year-old man with high blood pressure and diabetes, did not have other serious chronic diseases and was able to take care of himself.

The man had fever and shortness of breath and sought medical consultation at United Christian Hospital on February 23. Other young patients who died were also suffering from chronic illnesses.

So far, 1,153 patients have passed away in public hospitals in the fifth wave, Lee said.

He said dozens of refrigerated containers will be sent to public hospitals to store bodies of deceased patients. Freezers were also installed at Fu Shan Public Mortuary in Sha Tin to increase body storage spaces.

Undersecretary for food and health Chui Tak-yi said 520 deaths in the fifth wave have been analyzed and 91 percent of them were not vaccinated.

Chui said the government will open more designated vaccination centers for elderly citizens and children.

Meanwhile, activists Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho Chun-yan and Koo Sze-yiu were among over 1,000 inmates who have been infected. There were also 800 correctional officers who have tested positive.

It is understood that Ho has not been vaccinated as he is suffering from lung cancer.

The Correctional Services Department said most of the cases were asymptomatic and they were mainly detained at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, Stanley Prison, Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Pik Uk Correctional Institution.

Visitors will continue to be banned from the facilities until March 20, the CSD said.

Au said all infected prisoners have been quarantined, as well as their close contacts, and health authorities are maintaining close contact with the CSD.

Commissioner of Correctional Services Woo Ying-ming's secretary tested positive, but Woo tested negative in a rapid test.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen yesterday completed a seven-day home quarantine after his wife tested positive.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com