The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority today (August 13) 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:
      

 
     Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been conducted for the wards concerned. The hospitals 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.

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Islands, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (August 13) that the Islands District Office (IsDO), the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO) and the Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO) have distributed a total of about 249 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The IsDO distributed rapid test kits to households, traders and staff living and working in Sheung Ling Pei, Ha Ling Pei, Pa Mei Village, Ma Wan New Village, Wong Ka Wai and Lung Tseng Tau in Tung Chung for voluntary testing through the Tung Chung Rural Committee.  

     The KCDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Harbourfront Landmark and Whampoa Garden (Palm Mansions, Lily Mansions, Cotton Tree Mansions, Banyan Mansions, Bamboo Mansions, Oak Mansions, Bauhinia Mansions, Willow Mansions, Juniper Mansions and Cherry Mansions) for voluntary testing through the property management companies. 

     In addition, the KTDO also started distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tak Tin Estate, Cha Kwo Ling Tsuen, Choi Hing Court, Lok Nga Court, On Kay Court, and residential premises around Fan Wa Street and Cha Kwo Ling Road for voluntary testing through the property management companies, Cha Kwu Ling Villagers Fraternity Association and non-governmental organisation.  

     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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     As at 0.00am today (August 13), a total of 1 604 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 220 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 441 patients are in isolation wards, 74 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 497 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 180 in total are new patients. There are eight newly reported critical patients and eight newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 32 patients in critical condition and 25 are in serious condition, of which 11 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 178 patients who have recovered, including 144 patients who have been discharged. In addition, three patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.
      
     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 58 051 patients who have recovered so far, including 57 768 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 70 431 patients who have recovered, including 70 148 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 (August 13) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, August 13, the CHP was investigating 5 148 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 839 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (739 confirmed cases, 782 asymptomatic cases and 318 cases with pending status) and 3 309 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 160 additional imported cases were reported, including 132 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (13 confirmed cases, 54 asymptomatic cases and 65 cases with pending status) and 28 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 842 717 and 569 326 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.

     As of yesterday (August 12), 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 14 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 13, a total of 9 349 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 269 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 9 562 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 364 409, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 240 150, 31 and 236 156 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.

     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 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.

     The Government reminded persons-in-charge or managers of premises who are required to use the QR Code Verification Scanner today (August 13) that they must have their scanners updated to version 4.4.0 or above and connected to the Internet. This is to ensure that checking of the Vaccine Pass of customers or visitors can be performed accurately to comply with the Government's newly introduced Red and Amber Codes arrangement.

     A Government spokesman said, "The latest versions of the 'LeaveHomeSafe' (LHS) mobile application and the QR Code Verification Scanner which support the Red and Amber Codes have been operating smoothly. In cases which individual persons are unable to obtain a Red Code, it may be attributed to various reasons, such as the relevant persons were confirmed to be a positive case before the Red Code was introduced (i.e. before August 9), their LHS mobile application has not been updated to version 3.4.0 or above or their mobile devices were not connected to the Internet. It may also be caused if they have used a different identity document and number when undergoing nucleic acid tests/declaring positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results/making inbound declarations, other than the one they used for receiving vaccination. For any doubt, members of the public may call the LHS hotline (2626 3066) to seek assistance. The operation of the Red and Amber Codes has been running smoothly. To date, over 48 million times of matching were performed by the system and about 28 000 codes conversions were conducted."

     Furthermore, under the current requirements of isolation order, confirmed cases who have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines may complete the isolation on Day 7 the earliest if they obtained negative RAT results for two consecutive days. Their Red Code will be converted to a Blue Code upon self-declaration through the system.

     At present, when confirmed cases complete self-declaration of positive RAT results online, or receive positive results after undergoing nucleic acid tests, their LHS mobile application of version 3.4.0 or above will automatically conduct matching with system information through Internet connection. The system will then convert their Vaccine Pass QR code to a Red Code according to the record.

     Persons who have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines may complete their isolation early after obtaining negative RAT results on both Day 6 and Day 7 (or two consecutive days thereafter). They are required to self-declare the negative RAT results on the website (www.evt.gov.hk). Upon receipt of declaration by the system, the LHS will conduct matching with system information through Internet connection and the Red Code of relevant persons will then be reverted to a Blue Code automatically. It is noteworthy that the Vaccine Pass will remain as a Red Code before self-declaration was completed by confirmed cases. For persons who have not been vaccinated or have only received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, they are required to complete a 14-day isolation at the isolation premises. The Red Code will subsequently revert to the Blue Code automatically.

     Inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan will be issued a quarantine order upon arrival in Hong Kong. The system will automatically display their Vaccine Pass QR Code as an Amber Code. When their medical surveillance period ends (i.e. 9am on Day 7 after arrival), the LHS will conduct matching with system information through Internet connection and automatically convert their Amber Code to a Blue Code.

     The spokesman added, "We also noticed that a small number of persons encountered difficulties when entering premises subject to 'active checking'. Follow-up action was taken immediately to review the system, ensuring that the code conversion operation is in order to update the QR code for relevant persons to a correct one. As some premises are still using outdated QR Code Verification Scanners which are yet to be updated to version 4.4.0 or above in time, it may also result in situation that individual persons are unable to enter such premises with the Vaccine Pass."

     The Government reminded persons-in-charge or managers of relevant premises that they are required to use the updated version of scanners starting from August 12 according to the latest directions issued under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). Should members of the public have any enquiries about the LHS and the conversion of codes, they may call the LHS hotline (2626 3066). All enquiries concerning code conversion received by the hotline over the past few days have been properly handled.