Covid-19 infections jump to 505 in Hong Kong, rise of subvariants worries officials
- Health authorities are tracking three subvariants of the Omicron strain, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5.
- Although cases have been climbing recently, so too have number of residents submitting old positive test results to get around vaccine rules, officials say
Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong jumped past 500 to hit a five-week high on Wednesday, as the government said it would be even more vigilant when handling cases involving multiple subvariants of the Omicron strain.
The latest figures cap more than a week of rising figures, but health officials stressed that many residents previously counted as infected had supplied old test results in an attempt to win an exemption from the third vaccine shot needed to enter most premises.
Dr Chuang Chuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch at the Centre for Health Protection, said authorities were closely following developments after 505 infections were confirmed on Wednesday, with some of the cases discovered through screening ordered after two clusters emerged at bars in Lan Kwai Fong.
“Among all the infections, 41 cases are people under home quarantine … more than 20 were detected from compulsory testing orders issued to premises like the two pubs. The rest are distributed in various districts evenly,” Chuang said. “We cannot rule out if the daily caseloads are surging. We will further monitor the situation.”
Neither had other indicators, such as the viral loads in sewage testing at residential buildings, shown any worrying increase, Chuang added.
The government previously warned it was considering delaying a planned easing of social-distancing rules at the end of the month after two clusters emerged in Lan Kwai Fong.