​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 20) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, October 20, the CHP was investigating 5 098 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 931 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (439 confirmed cases, 420 asymptomatic cases and 72 cases with pending status) and 4 167 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 335 additional imported cases were reported, including 295 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (53 confirmed cases, 224 asymptomatic cases and 18 cases with pending status) and 40 cases that tested positive by RATs. Among the additional imported cases, 158 of them involved samples at the airport, 128 of them involved samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 49 involved samples during Day 4 to Day 7.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 979 292 and 879 428 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the Annex and the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.
 
     The CHP has been closely monitoring the situation of tested positive cases involving mutant strains by genetic analysis. As of 0.00am, October 20, the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 99, two, four, one, five and nine cases of sub-lineages XBB, XBD, BA.2.75.2, BA.4.6, BF.7 and BQ.1.1 respectively among imported cases in Hong Kong, while two cases of XBD have also been detected among local cases.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's PHLSB during October 11 to 17 for verification testing of local cases, about 0.6 per cent and 92.1 per cent of them (seven-day moving average) are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, October 20, a total of 10 093 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 10 008 and 82 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 10 306 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (October 19), the total number of confirmed cases was 426 587, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 308 044, 31 and 243 404 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP said that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children, and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected.

     ​The CHP appeals to the community to keep on maintaining personal hygiene and comply with social distancing measures in order to jointly contain the risk of virus transmission. ​​The spokesman reminded members of the public that they can call various hotlines to make enquiries on COVID-19 (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html#hotline).

Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:40

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