HK sees over 2.7k COVID-19 cases

July 9, 2022

Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Integrated Clinical Services) Dr Larry Lee:

When the elderly or people with disabilities have to (be) discharged back to their hostels, for the patients who received two or more than two (doses) of a COVID-19 vaccine, on top of the rapid antigen test, we want a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.
 
When (they have) achieved either a negative (test result) or a Ct (cycle threshold) value more or equal to 30, we can let them go back to their hostels. 

However, for some cases that have received less than two vaccine (doses), such cases need to be isolated in either a hospital, CIF (community isolation facility) or holding centre up to day 14. 

We aim to increase the protection to (others) in the hostels because they are more prone to a severe illness.

And I think the Ct value (of) more than or equal to 30 has been demonstrated to be safe and also evidence-based on a valid scientific background.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 2,791 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,104 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 1,687 via rapid antigen tests that were verified.

Separately, 204 imported cases were recorded.

At this afternoon’s press briefing, Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Integrated Clinical Services) Dr Larry Lee announced that public hospitals will implement a new testing arrangement when discharging patients from care homes for the elderly and care homes for people with disabilities.

“For the patients who received two or more than two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, on top of the rapid antigen test, we want a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.

“When they have achieved either a negative test result or a Ct (cycle threshold) value more or equal to 30, we can let them go back to their hostels.

“However, for some cases that have received less than two vaccine doses, such cases need to be isolated in either a hospital, CIF (community isolation facility) or holding centre up to day 14.

“We aim to increase the protection to others in the hostels because they are more prone to a severe illness.”

Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Shing Tai House of On Tai Estate in Kwun Tong, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Furthermore, due to a number of positive cases, 66 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another six premises in Tuen Mun, Fanling, Tai Po, Tai Wai and Tsing Yi where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection station at Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several estates in Islands, Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po districts, the Housing Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

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