The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (September 5), a total of 2 915 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 396 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 584 patients are in isolation wards, 179 patients are in second-tier isolation wards, 580 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and 238 patients are in the Treatment Centre for COVID-19 (AWE), of which 271 in total are new patients. There are five newly reported critical patients and 13 newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 63 patients in critical condition and 60 are in serious condition, of which 16 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 266 patients who have recovered, including 218 patients who have been discharged. In addition, eight patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.
 
     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 64 325 patients who have recovered so far, including 63 981 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 76 705 patients who have recovered, including 76 361 patients who have been discharged.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 5) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, September 5, the CHP was investigating 9 869 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 2 682 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (1 247 confirmed cases, 1 170 asymptomatic cases and 265 cases with pending status) and 7 187 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 152 additional imported cases were reported, including 134 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (11 confirmed cases, 94 asymptomatic cases and 29 cases with pending status) and 18 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 902 881 and 689 539 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during August 27 to September 2 for verification testing of local cases, about 6.0 per cent and 60.7 per cent of them (seven-day moving average) are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, September 5, a total of 9 519 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 437 and 79 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 732 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (September 4), the total number of confirmed cases was 391 619, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 269 062, 31 and 239 353 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection is severe with the number of cases tested positive growing at an increased pace. The CHP strongly appeals to the community to strictly comply with social distancing measures and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or mass gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹The spokesman reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children, and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected.

     A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 5) that the FEHD and the Police continued to step up their inspections to take stringent enforcement actions territory-wide against premises operators, staff and customers in bars/pubs, other catering premises and certain other premises that defy the anti-epidemic regulations, through its respective inspections and joint operations, from September 2 till the small hours today. The spokesman said that given the continuous deterioration of the recent epidemic situation, enforcement departments will proactively take stringent enforcement actions on an ongoing basis. Premises operators and the public are urged not to defy the law, but to work together to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community.
 
     The spokesman reminds the parties concerned to strictly comply with the requirements and directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) (Cap. 599F Regulation), and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) etc, including the requirement on the Red Code and Amber Code under the Vaccine Pass; and customers of catering premises participating in a banquet activity have to comply with the rapid antigen test requirement.
 
     The enforcement figures of the FEHD and the Police for the past three days (September 2 to 4) are as follows:
 

 
     Moreover, the FEHD and the Police also required the premises to take corresponding measures for reducing the risk of transmission. Premises found with irregularities had to, on the subsequent day of being identified of the irregularities by the enforcement officers, cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises from 6pm to 4.59am of the subsequent day, and allow no more than two persons to be seated together at one table, for a period of three, seven or 14 days or closure of the premises for seven or 14 days. The details of the case numbers are as follows:
  

 
     If a person responsible for carrying on a catering business contravenes the Cap. 599F Regulation or the requirements and directions of the Vaccine Pass, he or she is liable to be prosecuted and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who are present at catering premises or other specified premises must comply with directions applicable to them. Non-compliance with the relevant directions is an offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000, or the liability may be discharged by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000. In addition, for customers in breach of the requirement on the maximum number of persons per table within catering premises, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). For persons not wearing a mask when they are not eating or drinking at a table therein, they are liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000 for contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I).　
 
     To reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community, the spokesman strongly appeals to all sectors of the community again to stay vigilant and comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner. The FEHD has strengthened its publicity efforts and will continue to take stringent enforcement actions. All sectors are reminded to exercise self-discipline and co-operate to fight the virus together.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (September 5) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases.
 
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts:
 

 
     The following are the statistics of clusters of nosocomial infection cases in public hospitals:
 

 
     In addition, a staff member of a female ward for severe intellectual disability at Siu Lam Hospital tested positive for COVID-19 on September 3. The hospital arranged testing for all patients and staff members in the ward concerned, and seven more patients and a staff member subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. The patients and staff members concerned are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition. Four patients who stayed in the same dormitory were identified as close contacts and are being isolated for quarantine.
 
     The hospital is investigating the linkage among the nine cases. Visiting arrangements for the ward concerned have been suspended. Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been conducted. The hospital will continue to monitor the health condition of patients and staff members closely, and communicate with the Centre For Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 5) investigating a suspected case of food poisoning related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.

     The case involves a female aged 52, who developed chills, sweating, increased salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea about three hours after consuming mushrooms at home on September 3. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on September 4 and was admitted to the hospital for further management. She has been in a stable condition and was discharged.

     Initial investigations revealed that the patient received the wild mushrooms from a hiker she met around Lion Rock on September 3. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     "Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms such as profuse sweating, hallucinations, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.

     â€‹"If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.