By Daisy CL Mandap
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| 130 local cases were reported today, a record which could easily be beaten tomorrow |
Health officials have again sounded alarm bells, after reporting that out of 131 new confirmed cases today, Jan 4, all but one were locally acquired.
The 130 local cases detected is the highest number on record.
Of these, 59 are unlinked, which is another record high since the pandemic
swept across
When the biggest ever tally of 162 was recorded on Jan. 27, only 116 were local infections, and the remaining 48 cases were imported.
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The situation looks even more dire for tomorrow, with more than 195 people testing preliminary positive, according to the Centre for Health Protection.
Speaking at today’s press conference, CHP controller Dr Edwin Tsui said there are now 220 untraceable cases in the city, further fueling concerns that the number of infections could rise exponentially.
Tsui noted that in the past four days, more than 100 local cases were detected daily, and more and more of these infections are unlinked to previous infections.
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“The present situation, I think, is quite challenging, because there are more and more local cases we detect every day, and those without an obvious source, the percentage has been increasing quite rapidly,” he said.
He again appealed to people to avoid gathering, practice personal hygiene, keep their surroundings clean, stay away from high-risk places, and get vaccinated if they haven’t done so yet.
According to CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the 130 local cases, three carried the Delta mutant strain, 121 are likely Omicron carriers, while tests on the remaining four are still pending.
All 59 unlinked cases all carry the Omicron strains, Chuang said.
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According to the Hospital Authority’s Dr Lau Ka-hin, a total of 1,408 confirmed patients are hospitalized in the various infection control centers and 13 public hospitals.
One patient, a 77-year-old woman, remains in critical condition while the rest are all stable.
Hui said the CHP has investigated over 20 different buildings where Omicron is suspected to have spread via sewage pipes or air vents.
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The latest to be inspected was Hing Ping House, Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun where 26 residents from 14 units have tested positive.
According to Chuang, some residents of the building will have to be moved to quarantine while the rest will be put under a second night of lockdown during which they will all be tested again.
Later this evening, the government announced lockdowns on several more buildings: Tower 1 of Yuk Ming Towers in Sai Ying Pun, Block 14 of Tsui Chuk Garden in Wong Tai Sin, and seven buildings in Sham Shui Po.
Sewage samples taken from these buildings were reportedly found to carry the coronavirus.
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| 7 buildings in Sham Shui Po are under lockdown tonight (File) |
Among today's unlinked cases, 10 live in different parts of Sham
Shui Po, while the rest live in various districts. There is one case in Midvale
in
In
In the
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Asked for any contingency measures in cases hospitals are swamped with confirmed cases in the coming days, Tsui said the government may consider allowing home quarantine for positive patients with mild or no symptoms.
However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam later said there are
plans to convert Penny’s
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