HK sees 291 COVID-19 cases

May 19, 2022

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 291 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 116 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 175 were identified via rapid antigen tests.

 

Among the new cases, 38 are imported while the rest are locally infected.

 

A total of 1,197,057 people have contracted the virus since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, involving 9,153 deaths.

 

Meanwhile, the whole genome sequencing analysis conducted by the Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch revealed that of 11 earlier imported cases, one carried the sub-lineage BA.4 while 10 carried the subvariant BA.2.12.1 under the Omicron mutant strain.

 

The BA.4 case is linked to a 27-year-old woman who flew in from South Africa on May 15 and tested positive upon arrival. The BA.2.12.1 cases were found in five men and five women, aged 19 to 67, who arrived from the US, the UK, Canada and Qatar between May 9 and 15.

 

So far, Hong Kong has recorded nine imported cases with BA.4 and 35 imported cases with BA.2.12.1. No such cases have been reported from the local community.

 

Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover Fu Chung House of Mei Chung Court in Tai Wai, Blocks 5 and 6 of Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay and Yeung Shue House of Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan.

 

People in the restricted areas are required to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

 

Furthermore, due to a number of positive cases, 42 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice.

 

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Hing Man Estate in Chai Wan and Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay tomorrow to facilitate people subject to compulsory testing.

 

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Kwai Tsing, Kowloon City and Yuen Long districts, the Housing Department and the respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

 

Additionally, the Hospital Authority announced that in view of the stabilised COVID-19 epidemic situation and the increasing service demand, the accident and emergency departments of Tin Shui Wai Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and North Lantau Hospital will resume normal services gradually from tomorrow.

 

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government’s dedicated webpage.

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