Hong Kong's Covid Cases Fall Below 1,000

Health authorities on Friday reported 946 new Covid-19 infections – the first time in around two months the number of new cases has dropped below 1,000.

Of the 946 figures, 471 cases were detected via PCR tests, while 475 were from self-tests. Eleven of the cases were imported.

Officials also reported 67 more deaths, including those of 36 people who had passed away at public hospitals, in the past 24 hours. The youngest among them was an unvaccinated 59-year-old woman who had Takayasu's arteritis, a vascular disorder, and was suspected of having lung cancer.

In all, 8,856 people infected with Covid-19 have died during the fifth wave and the latest fatality rate is 0.748 percent.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection said the infection figure is now relatively low compared to the peak period of the fifth wave, but still high compared with daily figures during the first to fourth waves of the pandemic.

She added that the reproductive number of local cases, as measured by the University of Hong Kong, is now around 0.4, suggesting that the city’s virus situation is no longer on an upward trend.

However, she again urged people to wear masks and maintain personal hygiene when going out during the Easter Holidays, stressing that it’s possible the virus situation may rebound.

Officials also said the government was suspending a flight operated by Qatar Airways from Doha to Hong Kong for a week from April 16 to 22, after four passengers on the flight tested positive for Covid after arrival.

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