HK Reports 32,597 New Covid Cases And 172 Deaths

Hong Kong on Tuesday reported 32,597 new coronavirus cases and 172 Covid-related deaths.

The infections figure is lower than the 34,466 reported on Monday, but Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said this might be due to fewer people doing PCR tests at the government's testing stations after authorities announced that rapid antigen test results are now recognised.

He noted that the CHP's infection figures might not reflect the current pandemic situation as some people with Covid might have tested positive in rapid tests without reporting this to the authorities.

Au added that some people infected with Covid have mild or no symptoms, so they might not think to get tested at all.

He added that while cases have been reported from all districts across the city, Yuen Long, Sha Tin and Sham Shui Po have seen relatively higher infection numbers.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority (HA) said 117 Covid patients died over the past day.

It also announced another 55 deaths which occurred between February 23 and February 27.

More than 800 Covid patients have died so far during the Omicron outbreak.

As the number of infections continues to surge, the HA said a second hospital would be used solely for treating Covid patients from Wednesday.

All patients currently staying in North Lantau Hospital would be transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital, and the 160 beds there would be freed up to receive Covid patients.

But the Accident and Emergency Department at the hospital will maintain its service.

Just last week, Tin Shui Wai Hospital has also been converted into a Covid-only hospital.

Separately, as public mortuaries reach capacity, authorities said they have borrowed space from the private sector to store bodies, while work to expand Fu Shan Public Mortuary in Sha Tin will be sped up.

______________________________

USEFUL LINKS General Covid-19 situation: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/

Compulsory testing notices:

Community Clinics for Covid-19 patients:

Vaccination programme:

Vaccination pass scheme:

Hotline for Covid-positive patients: 1836 115