Nov 26, 2024
By The SUN
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| 45 cases were added to the bar clusters, including 13 more from LINQ (File photo) |
Health authorities reported
515 new Covid-19 infections on Sunday, amid studies showing the reproductive
rate of the coronavirus has risen in the wake of relaxed social distancing
measures.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the
Centre for Health Protection said that while the number of false positive
results from rapid tests is still high, a study conducted by the University of
Hong Kong showed an upward trend in infections.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
"The proportion of
RAT-positive cases is much higher than those tested positive by PCR, and we
noted that at least a proportion of them have tested negative after we checked
with their PCR [tests]. But all in all, even we added those who tested positive
[through] PCR and RAT, we noted that the actual number seems to be increasing a
bit over the few days," Chuang said.
The HKU study showed the
reproductive rate of the virus on May 28 was 1.353 which was slightly higher
than the 1 recorded on previous days.
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But other indicators such as
the number of hospital admission, severe cases and deaths, have not risen significantly
so there is not much cause for worry.
Despite the assurance, four
new Covid-related deaths were reported today, involving patients three men and
a woman aged 68 to 98. The city's death tally now stands at 9,173.
The infection tally from the
fifth wave, on the other hand, has risen to 1.202 million.
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Chuang said that of those who
reported positive results from rapid tests last Thursday, 44 or 14 percent,
tested negative on confirmatory PCR tests. The cases will be deleted from the
overall tally.
Among the new cases were 45 linked
to four bars in Central.
Shuffle on Lan Kwai Fong
recorded 27 additional cases, pushing up the tally there to 69 while LINQ on Pottinger
added 13 more infections, for a total tally of 78.
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Zentral on D’Aguilar Street where the
first outbreak was reported, now has 37 total infections after two more were
added; while Iron Fairies on Hollywood Road has a total of 56 cases after three
more customers tested positive.
As for school clusters, Chuang reported another
case being added to an outbreak at Holy Trinity College in Shek Kip Mei, raising
the tally there to 10.
She also disclosed one new case of the
Omicron BA.2.12.1 sub-variant involving a 38-year-old woman who lives at Kwun
Tak Court in Kowloon City. The building has been under a compulsory testing
notice.
Two of the woman’s family members were
earlier found infected, but the source of their infection is still unknown.
Initial inquiries showed the family had not gone out to eat during the
incubation period.
Chuang said there may be hidden
transmissions in Kowloon City.
Separately, the Hospital
Authority said three doctors working at the intensive care unit in North
District Hospital tested positive.
They are awaiting further
testing, as they reported not having come into contact with any confirmed cases
in the past 14 days.
Also, a nurse at Queen Mary
Hospital's orthopaedics and trauma department has been infected, and one of the
patients in the ward where she works also tested positive with a low viral load.
Hospital
Authority’s Dr Gladys Kwan said that 349 patients are receiving treatment in
various public hospitals and medical facilities.
Among them, 11 are in critical condition, five of whom are in intensive care; while six are in serious condition.
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| PADALA NA! |
