Pedestrians cross a busy intersection in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong on Jan 4, 2022. (PETER PARKS / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong health authorities reported 16,023 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday as Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal Andrew Cheung Kui-nung tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement that 15,147 of the new cases were local infections while the remaining 876 were imported. There were 15,774 cases on Saturday.
Between Dec 9 and 15, 54.13 percent of cases verified by the PHLSB were linked with the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant, the Centre for Health Protection said
The 40 new reported023 new COVID-19 deaths pushed the city’s toll during the current fifth wave of infections to 10,958, the CHP said.
Among the 876 imported cases, 526 were identified at the Hong Kong International Airport, 280 during the first to third days of their arrival in Hong Kong, and the remaining 70 from day 4 to day 7, the CHP added.
As of Sunday, the Department of Health's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 226 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, eight of BA.2.75.2, seven of BA.4.6, 13 of BF.7 and 38 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong.
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There were also 142 cases of sub-lineage XBB, 18 of XBD, one of BA.2.75.2, nine of BF.7, and 166 of BQ.1.1 detected among local cases.
Between Dec 9 and 15, 54.13 percent of cases verified by the PHLSB were linked with the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant, the CHP said.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Cheung tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test, the Judiciary said in a statement.
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Cheung, who is currently under isolation, last went to work on Friday and followed anti-pandemic measures, including wearing a mask and taking daily RAT tests. He has no recent travel history, the Judiciary added.