HONG KONG – Health officials today reported 3,254 COVID-19 infections, 116 more than the previous day.
Of the new patients, 1,658 were identified by PCR tests, while 1,596 took self-tests.
Authorities also reported 87 more deaths linked to COVID-19, including 81 people who died at public hospitals in the past 24 hours, and six who had passed away earlier.
In total, 8,136 people have died in the fifth wave, putting the death rate at 0.7 percent. More than 1.16 million people were infected.
Dr Albert Au Ka-wing from the Centre for Health Protection urged people to stay vigilant and avoid social gatherings during the upcoming Easter Holidays, warning that infection figures are still relatively high.
He also acknowledged that many people had been under a lot of stress during the pandemic, especially those whose family members had contracted COVID-19 or had passed away.
Dr Au said people can receive emotional support from government clinical psychologists via a hotline set up by the Centre for Health Protection.
Meanwhile, authorities in Hong Kong also reported today 16 imported novel coronavirus infections, involving people who flew in from places like the UK, Thailand, Turkey, the Netherlands, Qatar, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Spain, and France.
The government said it will ban Qatar Airways from operating flights from Doha to Hong Kong, as well as Cathay Pacific from flying from Manchester to Hong Kong, for a week, after three or more passengers on those flights tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Macau's official COVID-19 tally (cumulative cases since January 2020) stands at 82, none of which is still under treatment. No COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Macau.
– RTHK, MPD
