By The SUN
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| Only random checks will be done to confirm positive RAT results that are reported |
Health officials said earlier today, Monday, that they no longer require all those declaring positive results from rapid antigen tests (RATS) to undergo confirmatory PCR tests and will just do spot checks instead.
This was announced as an additional 8,488 Covid-19 cases were reported today, 236 of them imported.
According to Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection, there are two reasons why positive RAT results are not being confirmed through a PCR test anymore.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
"One explanation why we do that is because of the low false negative rate so far we have tested... and the second of course is because of the rapid increase in the number of tests we have to do so we have to be more efficient in the use of our laboratory testing," she said.
The boy was rushed to hospital last week in critical condition after suffering from croup, an infection of the upper airway which obstructs breathing, and is often associated with Covid-19 among children.
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His condition improved after two days, and he was listed in stable condition until today.
Lau also reported four new related deaths, all involving female patients aged between 89 and 101.
An additional 338 patients were moved to public hospitals and treatment facilities overnight, raising the number of those admitted to 2,556.
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| Press for details |
Among them 52 are in critical condition, 17 of them in intensive care, including the toddler. Forty other patients are severely ill.
Of the 236 imported cases, 129 were
detected at
The travelers came from 38
countries, and the following places had more than 10 positive cases:
Lau said 173 of the 200 Covid beds at the AsiaWorld-Expo are now occupied, so they are planning to add up to 300 more, and convert some non-urgent wards to treat coronavirus patients.
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| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love |
In addition, the quarantine centre at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will start operating this Friday, in a bid to ease the pressure on isolation facilities.
The Social Welfare Department which will oversee operation said the 786-bed center will reserve about a third of its beds for residents of elderly care homes who have been identified as close Covid contacts.
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| PADALA NA! |
