Hong Kong reports 1,522 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

In a news briefing, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Center for Health Protection, said the new cases involved 1,522 local infections and 128 imported cases. There was also one new reported death, bringing the city's death toll to 9,185 during the fifth wave.

Chuang said the new cluster at Victoria Harbour Restaurant involved 26 patrons who dined there after 6 pm on June 16 and one close contact.

I think seven or eight families were having a meal at the place. Chuang said that others were of a larger group.

Two of the identified cases were suspected to have the infectious Omicron subvariant BA. She added.

Chuang said the CHP will check Vaccine Pass records to determine how many more patrons need to be tested.

She said all persons who walked into the restaurant on the evening of June 16 should undergo tests to find out if they had been infected with BA. She said there were 38 new cases with this variant reported on Thursday.

Chuang said 135 students and 37 teachers from 155 schools reported being infected. A close contact of an infected member of the basketball team at St. Francis Xavier's School in Tsuen Wan also tested positive.

Chuang said the basketball team has been put under quarantine while four residential care homes, including two in Tai Po and Tsuen Wan, reported one COVID- 19 case.

The hospital authority chief manager, Sara Ho, said in the same briefing that the patient who died was an 80-year-old man with hypertension, renal impairment, and other heart ailments.

He was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital. We found that the enzyme level in his heart had increased substantially. Ho said that this may have something to do with his heart condition, and that the case has been sent to the Coroner's Court to determine his exact cause of death.

Ho said 513 COVID 19 patients were being treated in public hospitals, including 73 new patients.

Ho said that ten were in critical condition, including three in intensive care units, while another 10 were in serious condition.