Citizens receive COVID-19 testing at a mobile testing station in a park in Hong Kong, south China, Feb 10, 2022. (LO PING FAI / XINHUA)
HONG KONG – Individuals who get a CT value of 35 or above in COVID-19 nucleic acid tests will be considered as having negative test results starting Jan 16, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government announced on Friday.
The government said that those with a CT value of 35 or above “are generally not associated with infectiousness” and the Centre for Health Protection, after assessing relevant risks, decided that they should not be considered as confirmed cases, according to a government statement.
Hong Kong recorded in Friday 8,260 new COVID cases as 62 more COVID related deaths pushed the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 12,480
Those who have this CT value and are currently in quarantine will be informed by the CHP of the cancellation of their isolation orders.
People who tested positive through a rapid antigen test will continue to be isolated until they get negative RAT test results for two consecutive days.
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Meanwhile, Hong Kong on Friday recorded 8,260 new COVID cases as 62 more COVID related deaths pushed the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 12,480, the CHP said in a separate statement.
It said the new cases comprised 8,032 locally acquired infections and 228 imported ones. Friday marked the seventh consecutive day that the city’s number of new COVID cases fell.
Sixteen care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities recorded 28 infections involving 25 residents and three staff members.
A total of 519 schools reported 657 students and 120 staff members testing positive for the virus.
Among imported infections, there were two more cases of BF.7, three of BQ1.1, and four of XBB, including two cases of the new variant XBB.1.5.
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From Jan 4-10, around 46.52 percent of COVID cases verified were related to the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant.
In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said total 4,207 COVID patients were being treated in hospitals, including 350 new admissions.
The HA said 2,186 required isolation, 73 needed ventilator support, and 656 were on oxygen therapy.
It added that 188 COVID patients were in serious condition, and 196 patients in critical condition, including 52 receiving intensive care.