Hong Kong reports 2,358 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths

A couple visits a viewing deck before the Hong Kong skyline on March 29, 2022. HONG KONG Hong Kong recorded 2,358 new COVID 19 cases and two new reported deaths on Thursday, bringing the city's death toll to 9,188 during the fifth wave.

Albert Au KaAu Ka-wing, the chief medical and health officer of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing that the new cases included 2,196 local cases and 162 imported infections.

He said that 893 of the local cases were confirmed through nucleic acid testing, while 1,373 were detected by rapid antigen tests.

ALSO READ: HK logs 2,004 new virus cases, prepares over 11 k hospital beds.

Au said that the imported infections included 74 detected at the airport, 70 confirmed during hotel quarantine and 18 identified after quarantine.

192 reported cases were reported from 142 schools, while eight infections of the Omicron subvariant BA were reported. Au said there were 1 confirmed, including six that were untraceable.

He added that health authorities also detected 28 suspected BA. There were 5 cases, including nine that were untraceable.

ALSO READ: HK sees 1,685 new virus cases, outbreak at Mong Kok eatery.

In the same briefing, Lau Ka-hin, Chief Manager Quality and Standards of the Hospital Authority, said two female COVID- 19 patients, aged 85 and 98, had chronic diseases.

The 85-year-old patient had dementia and passed away after suffering a stroke. The 98-year-old woman had colon cancer and her condition deteriorated and died on Wednesday, Lau said.

He said 692 COVID 19 patients were being treated in public hospitals as of Thursday, including 115 new patients.

Lau said 12 were in critical condition, including three in intensive care units and 13 in serious condition.

READ MORE: HK will distribute 190,000 RAT kits after the virus was found in sewage.