The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (December 3), a total of 2 765 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 321 new patients. Currently, there are 289 patients requiring oxygen therapy and 16 patients requiring ventilator support. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 606 patients are in isolation wards, 202 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 595 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 206 in total are new patients. There are 11 newly reported critical patients and 12 newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 52 patients in critical condition and 78 are in serious condition, of which 15 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 313 patients who have recovered, including 263 patients who have been discharged. In addition, 13 patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.
      
     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 Government gazetted today (November 25) the proposed road works to provide the necessary infrastructure to the public housing development at Tin Wah Road in Lau Fau Shan.
      
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
     
Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Yuen Long District Office Building,
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories
 
District Lands Office, Yuen Long,
9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plan, resumption plan and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau's Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

 
     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than the January 26, 2023.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 19) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, November 19, the CHP was investigating 7 559 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 487 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (567 confirmed cases, 692 asymptomatic cases and 228 cases with pending status) and 6 072 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 501 additional imported cases were reported, comprising 413 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (85 confirmed cases, 275 asymptomatic cases and 53 cases with pending status) and 88 cases that tested positive by RATs. Among the additional imported cases, 241 of them involved samples at the airport, 173 involved samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 87 involved samples during Day 4 to Day 7.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 1 029 614 and 999 331 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 19, the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 223 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 12 of BF.7 and 34 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong, while 50 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 16 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, one of BF.7 and 64 of BQ.1.1 have also been detected among local cases.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's PHLSB during November 10 to 16 for verification testing of local cases, 0 per cent and about 82.1 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, November 19, a total of 10 373 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 10 283 and 86 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as four deaths reported from private hospitals. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 10 586 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) that were changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As of yesterday (November 18), the total number of confirmed cases was 448 019, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 334 163, 31 and 245 501 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).

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations,

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Tourism Commission announces that due to the issue of the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 by the Hong Kong Observatory, "A Symphony of Lights" will be cancelled tonight (October 17).