A makeshift camp set up for COVID-19 patients due to limited space inside is pictured outside the Caritas Medical Centre in Hong Kong on Feb 18, 2022, as the city faces its worst coronavirus wave to date.
(PETER PARKS / AFP)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported 3,629 new COVID-19 cases on Friday as health authorities said they aim to move all patients waiting outside public hospitals indoors within the day.
In a press briefing, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said the new cases comprised two imported infections and 3,627 local ones. Another 7,600 people showed up positive in preliminary tests, she said.
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The authorities reported some 6,300 preliminary positive cases on Thursday while only around half of them were confirmed Friday. Chuang said there is a delay in confirming a backlog of 4,800 preliminary infections and said they hope to get the results by Friday evening.
Authorities are vacating indoor venues at hospitals including staff areas, corridors and general outpatient clinic areas for converting into patietns waiting areas, said Sara Ho Yuen-ha, Hospital Authority chief manager (patient safety and risk management)
Sara Ho Yuen-ha, Hospital Authority chief manager (patient safety and risk management), said there were 10 deaths reported over the past 24 hours, adding that more than 10 patients are in critical condition.
Patients have been seen outside public hospitals waiting hours for admission after a recent surge in cases led to overcrowding.
As the weather is expected to turn cold over the weekend, Ho said the authorities have stepped up efforts in a bid to move all patients indoors by the end of the day.
Authorities are vacating indoor venues including staff areas, corridors and general outpatient clinic areas for converting into patietns waiting areas, Ho said.
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"We're concerned about patents waiting outside the hospitals, especially when many of them are residents of care homes. Most of them are frail. We do not know if they are well taken care of outside," she said.
"We will do our best to move all patients indoors within today."
Ho also clarified reports that the Hospital Authority is short of resources such as warm clothes for patients and urged people not to send supplies to public hospitals as it might affect healthcare work.
"We have resources in stock for six months, including warm clothes," she said.
She also said around 150 Hospital Authority employees are confirmed infected.
2 more vaccination centers
The government is making every effort to expedite the pace of vaccination and strive for reaching a vaccination rate of 90 percent in the shortest period of time.
Patrict Nip, Secretary for the Civil Service
The government has been striving for a vaccination rate of 90 percent in combating the fifth wave. Two more community vaccination centers providing the BioNTech vaccine will start operation from next Wednesday.
Eligible residents can get their first, second or third dose at the centers at Loke Yew Hall of the University of Hong Kong and Tsuen Wan Sports Centre.
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Online reservations will start at 9 am next Monday. Those aged 60 or above can collect same-day tickets there.
"The government is making every effort to expedite the pace of vaccination and strive for reaching a vaccination rate of 90 percent in the shortest period of time," said Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen.
He added the vaccination center at HKU will gradually increase the distribution of same-day tickets to facilitate the vaccination of elderly people.