HONG KONG – Hong Kong's health authorities today recorded 30,493 more novel coronavirus cases and 291 COVID-19-related deaths.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said 28,475 infections had been confirmed by PCR tests.
It said 14,715 people had notified the authorities that they tested positive for COVID-19 in self-administered rapid antigen tests, but only 2,018 of them had completed the verification procedures so only these cases were taken into account in today's toll.
The notifications were made via a new online reporting platform introduced by the government.
Among the deaths, the Hospital Authority (HA) said 160 people with COVID-19 passed away at public hospitals over the past day, and 127 deaths had occurred earlier but had not been announced before.
The CHP added that four people with chronic illnesses were found dead at home when paramedics arrived and they subsequently tested positive for COVID-19
Albert Au Ka-wing of the CHP said the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong seemed to have stabilised as there was no longer an exponential rise in infections.
But he said more time was needed to observe the trend, adding that he hoped the new reporting platform would allow authorities to gain a better picture of the situation.
Sara Ho Yuen-ha, chief manager of the HA, said more hospitals would be retrofitted and used solely for treating COVID-19 patients.
North Lantau Hospital and Tin Shui Wai Hospital had already been converted into Covid-only hospitals.
Macau's COVID-19 tally stays at 82, without any fatalities, according to today's Health Bureau Prevent COVID-19 website. – RTHK, MPD
