29th January 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am today, the CHP was investigating 3,172 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 449 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (171 confirmed cases, 88 asymptomatic cases and 190 cases with pending status) and 2,723 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.
Separately, 111 additional imported cases were reported, including seven cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (two confirmed cases and five asymptomatic cases) and 104 cases that tested positive by RATs.
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 1,215,651 and 1,660,455 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.
The CHP has been closely monitoring the situation of positive cases involving mutant strains by genetic analysis.
In addition, as of 0.00am today, a total of 13,120 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since 31st December, 2021) were recorded, with 12,986 and 127 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as seven deaths reported from private hospitals. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 13,333 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) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday, the total number of confirmed cases was 532,112, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since 1st January, 2022, were 418,847, 31 and 264,205 respectively.
As at yesterday, a total of 2,019 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were hospitalised for treatment. Among the hospitalised confirmed patients, 140 were new patients, 922 required isolation, 298 required oxygen therapy and 43 required ventilator support. There were eight newly reported critical patients and six newly reported serious patients. There were a total of 93 patients in critical condition and 89 in serious condition, of which 28 critical patients were receiving intensive care. Moreover, there were 207 patients who had recovered, including 136 patients who had been discharged. In addition, 20 patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported. According to preliminary analysis, the cause of death of nine patients was related to COVID-19, while that of the remaining 11 patients was not.
Two new critical cases of children include a 5-year-old boy at Princess Margaret Hospital and an 11-year-old girl at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital.
The overall occupancy of medical beds in acute hospitals is around 95 per cent.
To dovetail Government’s latest measures on COVID-19, starting from tomorrow, the Hospital Authority (HA) will suspend issuing press release to announce the latest situation of COVID-19 cases in public hospitals daily. The HA will continue to collaborate with the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health to monitor the situation and to inform the public on the latest information as appropriate in a timely manner.
