People wearing face masks walk past a wall decorated in mosaic on the Yau Ma Tei fruit market in Hong Kong on November 22, 2022. ISAAC LAWRENCE AFP Nine more patients diagnosed with COVID 19 died, taking the total to 10,672 deaths since the start of the epidemic, the Centre for Health Protection CHP of the Department of Health said in a statement.
The announcement came on Saturday, a day before the authorities are about to launch online reservations for Comirnaty bivalent vaccine. Eligible persons aged 12 or above may choose to receive the vaccine from December 1.
8,365 of the newly registered coronavirus infections were locally acquired. Total 1,614 cases were tested positive by nucleic acid tests while the rest 6,751 were rapid antigen tests RATs Among the imported cases, 278 involved samples taken at the Hong Kong International Airport, 168 involved in day 1 to day 3 of their arrival and the remaining 63 involved samples during day 4 to day 7.
There are 224 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, and eight of BA, according to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch. There were 2, seven of a BA. 4.6, 12 of BF. The CHP said there was 1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong.
Another 80 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 16 of XBD, one of BA. BF has 2, two of them. 1.1 have been detected among locally-transmitted cases, it added.
The Hospital Authority said 2,625 patients, including 347 new ones, who tested positive for COVID 19 are currently being hospitalized for treatment.
There are 57 patients in critical condition and 60 in serious condition, which require ventilator support, it said.