Coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong shifting from pandemic to endemic, says government health adviser
- Professor Ivan Hung, a top infectious disease expert, says Hong Kong has fulfilled necessary criteria for city to transition from pandemic to endemic
- Health officials on Thursday log 2,358 coronavirus infections, of which 162 were imported, and two Covid-related deaths
The coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong is shifting from a pandemic phase to an endemic one, a government health adviser has said, as he called for authorities to ease the city’s strict entry regime for overseas arrivals.
Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, a top infectious disease expert and convenor of a government vaccine committee, on Thursday said Hong Kong had met the criteria for Covid-19 to be considered a constant presence in the city with a fairly predictable transmission pattern rather than a virus that could display exponential growth.
“Probably right now we are entering into an endemic phase already. Basically, we have very good hybrid immunity as unfortunately during the fifth wave … the majority of the population has been infected with Omicron BA.2. Four million people have been infected,” he said.
“As we know, Omicron BA.2 offers a very good cross-protection against BA.4 and BA.5, so we are in a very good position to open up and to move on to endemic.”
Health officials on Thursday logged 2,358 coronavirus infections, of which 162 were imported. Two Covid-related deaths were also reported, comprising two women aged 85 and 98.
Authorities also said 12 people were in critical condition, while 13 were in serious condition.