Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 30) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, August 30, the CHP was investigating 8 611 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 2 662 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (1 225 confirmed cases, 1 134 asymptomatic cases and 303 cases with pending status) and 5 949 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 237 additional imported cases were reported, including 205 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (18 confirmed cases, 125 asymptomatic cases and 62 cases with pending status) and 32 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 884 194 and 647 114 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.

     â€‹Among the specimens received by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during August 21 to 27 for verification testing of local cases, about 7.3 per cent and 49.1 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, August 30, a total of 9 468 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 387 and 78 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 9 681 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 (August 29), the total number of confirmed cases was 383 049, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 259 748, 31 and 238 499 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€‹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. read more

     â€‹In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, North and Eastern Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (August 30) that the Tsuen Wan District Office (TWDO), the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), the North District Office (NDO) and the Eastern District Office (EDO) have distributed a total of about 400 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The TWDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Bellagio, Rhine Garden, Ocean Pointe, Rhine Terrace, Parc City, Clague Garden Estate, Skyline Plaza, Ocean Supreme, Ocean Pride and Tsuen Wan Plaza for voluntary testing through the property management companies. The TWDO also distributed rapid test kits to households living in Sham Tseng Village, Sham Tseng Light Housing, Sham Tseng Kau Tsuen, Sham Tseng San Tsuen, Tsing Fai Tong New Village in Sham Tseng and Shu On Terrace for voluntary testing through the Village Head and a non-governmental organisation.
      
     The K&TDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in residential premises around Lai Fong Street, Yan Fong Street, Shun Fong Street and Shing Fong Street for voluntary testing through the property management companies and the owners’ corporations.
      
     The NDO also commenced distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Yan Shing Court, Wa Mei Shan Village, Yung Shing Court, Wo Hop Shek Village, Wo Hing Tsuen, Regalia Villa, Wah Ming Estate and Flora Plaza for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the Village Representatives and the resident representatives.
      
     In addition, the EDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Les Saisons, Grand Promenade, Lei King Wan, Hang Tsui Court and Tsui Wan Estate for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.

     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.

     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19. read more

     A staff member of the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19 through a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test.
     
     The officer is the Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. She has no recent travel history and last went to work yesterday (August 29). 
     
     An office spokesman said today (August 30) that thorough cleaning and disinfection operations at the office concerned have been conducted, and other relevant staff members will continue to undergo COVID-19 tests. read more

     Police today (August 30) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Western District.      Li Huagun, aged 40, went missing after he left his residence on Yat Fu Lane on… read more

     The Task Force on Supplies from the Mainland led by the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) has been working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government to explore various means to stabilise the supply of goods from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
 
     A spokesperson for the TLB said that the “Sea Express” water transportation service from the Mainland to Hong Kong has been fully launched and its capacity is rising to increase the supplies of fresh food, other daily necessities and manufacturing materials. The current supply of fresh food from the Mainland is stable.
 
     The spokesperson said today (August 30) that Shenzhen operated 45 cargo vessel trips and transported around 5 270 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cross-boundary supplies by water yesterday (August 29), equivalent to about 24 950 tonnes of goods, of which around 10 TEUs (about 10 tonnes) were fresh food and around 5 260 TEUs (about 24 940 tonnes) were non-fresh food, according to information from the Mainland authorities.
 
     Since the launch of services from the three ports in Shenzhen since February 18 to yesterday, a total of around 876 290 TEUs of cross-boundary supplies have been transported, equivalent to about 4 212 840 tonnes of goods, of which around 2 280 TEUs (about 19 270 tonnes) were fresh food and around 874 010 TEUs (about 4 193 570 tonnes) were non-fresh food.
 
     Meanwhile, to avoid a spillover of the epidemic, the Transport Department (TD) arranges for dedicated staff to conduct rapid nucleic acid tests, using nasopharyngeal swabs for specimen collection, for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers at various land boundary control points. Only drivers with a negative result are allowed to enter the Mainland. A total of 3 716 rapid nucleic acid tests were conducted yesterday, among which three cases that tested preliminarily positive or indeterminate were found. The TD has passed the cases to the Department of Health for follow-up.
 
     The TLB will closely monitor the situation and co-operate with the Mainland authorities to facilitate and implement various measures to ensure both smooth cross-boundary land transport and a stable goods supply to Hong Kong, while reducing the risk of epidemic transmission in both the Mainland and Hong Kong. read more