​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 2) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, November 2, the CHP was investigating 4 279 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 223 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (582 confirmed cases, 543 asymptomatic cases and 98 cases with pending status) and 3 056 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.
Separately, 430 additional imported cases were reported, including 402 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (76 confirmed cases, 309 asymptomatic cases and 17 cases with pending status) and 28 cases that tested positive by RATs. Among the additional imported cases, 302 of them involved samples at the airport, 83 of them involved samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 45 involved samples during Day 4 to Day 7.
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 1 001 288 and 926 547 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 Annex and the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.
The CHP has been closely monitoring the situation of positive cases involving mutant strains by genetic analysis. As of 0.00am, November 2, the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 204 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 11 of BF.7 and 24 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong, while four cases of sub-lineage XBB, eight of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2 and 10 of BQ.1.1 have also been detected among local cases.
Among the specimens received by the DH's PHLSB during October 24 to 30 for verification testing of local cases, about 0 per cent and 91.4 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, November 2, a total of 10 205 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 10 118 and 84 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 10 418 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 (November 1), the total number of confirmed cases was 435 700, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 319 665, 31 and 244 267 respectively.
The spokesman for the CHP said 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.
The CHP appeals to the community to keep on maintaining personal hygiene and comply with social distancing measures in order to jointly contain the risk of virus transmission. The spokesman reminded members of the public that they can call various hotlines to make enquiries on COVID-19 (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#hotline).
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