The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at 0.00am today (August 14), a total of 1 690 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 223 new patients. Am… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 14) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, August 14, the CHP was investigating 4 764 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 534 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (665 confirmed cases, 695 asymptomatic cases and 174 cases with pending status) and 3 230 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.
Separately, 215 additional imported cases were reported, including 195 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (15 confirmed cases, 147 asymptomatic cases and 33 cases with pending status) and 20 cases that tested positive by RATs.
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 844 446 and 572 576 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.
Meanwhile, the CHP updated the classification of cases reported yesterday (August 13). Upon further verification of the information, among the 5 148 locally acquired cases, 25 of them (all are cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests) should be classified as imported cases. Therefore, the number of locally acquired cases and imported cases for yesterday are 5 123 and 185 respectively.
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.
As of yesterday, among the specimens received by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch in the past seven days for verification testing of local cases, about 7 per cent and 16.1 per cent of them are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) under the Omicron mutant strain respectively.
In addition, as of 0.00am, August 14, a total of 9 352 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 272 and 77 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 9 565 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, the total number of confirmed cases was 365 286, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 241 109, 31 and 236 291 respectively.
The spokesman for the CHP stressed that as the local situation of COVID-19 infection is still severe, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.
​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 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
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The Hospital Authority today (August 14) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients o… read more
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 14) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mr Ambrose S K Lee.
Mr Chan said, “I first made Mr Lee’s acquaintance when I worked in the Immigration Department. We worked in the department together for about 20 years. He assumed office as the Secretary for Security some time later to lead various disciplinary forces including the Immigration Department. Mr Lee’s outstanding leadership, and his meticulous attitude towards and decisive approach to work, were highly respected by me and his colleagues. Under his leadership, the Immigration Department and other disciplinary forces upheld and exhibited professionalism and efficiency in an array of disciplines including immigration control, maintaining law and order in Hong Kong as a liveable city for its citizens.
“Mr Lee worked in the Government for almost 40 years, having taken up such important positions as the Director of Immigration, the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Secretary for Security. He was committed to serving the Government and Hong Kong citizens and guarding our motherland’s southern gateway. After leaving the Government, he continued to care about social affairs. Not only did he make important contributions to safeguarding national security and Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, he also laid a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle after Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Lee and would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family. We have lost not just a leader much respected by his fellows in disciplinary forces, but also a mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us.” read more
​The Government today (August 14) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” (declaration) effective from 5pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tseung Kwan O (i.e. Tower 6, Ocean Shores, Tseung Kwan O, see Annex) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at around noon tomorrow (August 15). The operation may be extended depending on test results.
A Government spokesman said, “Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’. Having reviewed a basket of factors, including the viral load in sewage, the information of relevant positive cases, and other circumstantial factors, and conducted a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a ‘restriction-testing declaration’ for the relevant area.”
The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 11pm today. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will make arrangement to facilitate specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. All persons in the “restricted area” who have tested positive in the past 14 days, including positive cases identified either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests that have been self-declared to the DH, are not required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.
The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around noon tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”
If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.
According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any persons other than those specified above who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from August 8 to 14, 2022, even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before August 16, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more