People rest on benches in a park at Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, March 4, 2022. PHOTO XINHUA HONG KONG KONG KONG reported 2,004 new COVID 19 cases on Wednesday as the Hospital Authority said it was ready to deploy up to 11,500 beds should there be a spike in admissions.
Albert Au Ka-wing, Principal Medical and Health Officer of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing that the new cases included 1,849 local infections and 155 imported cases.
He also stated that 788 infections were detected by nucleic acid testing and 1,061 by rapid antigen tests.
There has been a rise in caseload for the past week, and we noticed that it is at a rather high level. This may be due to the relaxation of social distancing measures in late May, Au said.
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He said most of the cases were asymptomatic and the increase was detected across all of the city's 18 districts.
There is a territory-wide increase but hospital admissions and mortality cases are currently at a very stable level, Au said.
Lau Ka-hin, chief manager quality and standards of the Hospital Authority, said they prepared a hospital beds mobilization plan should there be a surge in admissions.
The Hospital Authority has not let it down and prepared for a rebound, according to Lau, who said they have set up a command center to prepare for any eventuality.
We can commission 2,000 beds within 48 hours. He said within a week we can provide 5,000 more beds and 11,500 more beds in two weeks.
Lau said that the AsiaWorld-Expo treatment facility has 800 beds and can be recommissioned should the need arise.
As of Wedesnday, there were 671 COVID 19 patients treated in public hospitals, including 107 new patients, according to Lau.
He said 13 were in critical condition, including three in intensive care units and 14 in serious condition.
READ MORE: HK to distribute 190,000 RAT kits after the disease found in sewage The public hospitals are still able to cope and the increase in cases has not put a lot of pressure on our hospitals. There is enough supply of isolation beds, according to Lau.