Hong Kong reports 237 new COVID-19 cases, 212 in 212 local infections

192
2
Hong Kong reports 237 new COVID-19 cases, 212 in 212 local infections

A bride and groom wearing protective face masks walk along the waterfront for a photo shoot in Hong Kong on May 21, 2022. KIN CHEUNG AP HONG KONG KONG KONG-Hong Kong reported 237 new COVID 19 cases on Sunday as a family of three who ate at a fast food outlet in Taikoo Shing tested positive for the disease.

Albert Au, the principal medical and health officer of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said that the new cases included 212 local infections and 25 imported cases.

He said 94 were confirmed through nucleic acid testing and 143 by rapid antigen testing.

Au said the imported cases included eight from the United States, four from Singapore, three from India, two from Canada and one from Argentina, New Zealand, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Bangladesh.

ALSO READ: HK sees 228 new cases, hotel virus investigation continues, and probe into hotel virus spread continues.

He said that a 46-year-old man from Singapore also tested positive on the 12th day after his arrival in Hong Kong. He lives in Bel Air and works in Exchange Square's Tower 2. He said that the patient's viral load was low and that his infection might be a local case.

Au said a family of three, a 41-year-old mother and her two sons, aged 8 and 9 years old, tested positive after eating at a McDonald s branch in Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing before lunchtime on May 15.

A 64-year-old woman who later tested positive and was linked to the Lan Kwai Fong hotel cluster was also at the restaurant and had an overlap of 10 minutes.

Au said a genome sequencing analysis was being conducted to determine if the woman had the Omicron BA. The source of the family's infection was the 1 subvariant.

The family was close to the counter. The lady was further away, Au said.

ALSO READ: HK adults aged 18 -- 59 can now get the 4th dose of the virus vaccine.

He said the mother and her two sons tested positive on May 18. Before that, the two boys were able to go to school because their rapid antigen tests were still negative.

Au said three more cases were traced to the cluster that was linked to the Benchmark school, which now has 24 cases. After health authorities started testing at residential care homes on Friday, 10 cases were found, he said.

Lau Ka-hin, chief manager of quality and standards at the Hospital Authority, said 512 patients were being treated in public hospitals, the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Center, and the COVID 19 community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo.

READ MORE: Vaccine pass will be available to public health facilities on June 13th.