By The SUN
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| The elderly are at a higher risk of contracting severe Covid and flu during winter |
Health officials reported a total of 10,137 new Covid-19 cases today, Thursday, the highest since September 10. Fifteen more Covid patients have died.
The officials also warned anew of the possibility of flu and Covid cases spiking at the same time with the onset of winter and the lowered immunity of most people from their vaccine shots.
According to Dr Albert Au of the Centre for Health Protection, the number of infections rose by 8.4% from the week before. Local cases averaged around 8,000 a day in the past week, while imported cases dropped by around 2%.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Au said imported cases averaged 576 a day, which made up about 4% of all inbound travelers. Of these, 55% tested positive on arrival at Hong Kong airport, while the remaining 45% were detected from days 1-7.
He also expressed concern over the spike in the number of Covid-related deaths. A total of 115 deaths were recorded in the past week, which was 47.4% higher than in the previous week.
The positivity rate from sewage samples also rose
significantly, and is now said to be close to the levels found in March this
year, when the fifth wave of the pandemic was raging.
Hospital Authority chief
manager Dr Larry Lee said the flu season has started, and people should take
extra care not to catch the flu virus.
“This year we may be hit hard by both the Covid-19 pandemic and influenza infections,” he said.
“According to overseas
studies, patients who are infected with Covid-19 and influenza at the same time
face higher risks of serious symptoms and deaths.”
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Lee urged those who come down with the flu or
Covid-19, especially the elderly, to seek medical help immediately. Those who
have yet to get a vaccine or booster shot should do so right away as a
protection.
As a result of the rise in infections, around 340
new Covid patients are admitted to public hospitals daily, and there are now a
total of 2,700 of them receiving treatment.
More than 120 of the patients are in serious
or critical condition.
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The day’s tally included 606 imported cases, more
than half of which were detected on arrival at Hong Kong airport. A third were
found from samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remainder during Day 4 to 7.
More than 7,000 cases were positive results from
rapid antigen tests.
Hong Kong’s total Covid tally now stands at 2,128,382
with 10,762 deaths.
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| BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
Anyone with enquiries
regarding Covid in Hong Kong may call various hotlines listed here: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#hotline.
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