The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 26) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, October 26, the CHP was investigating 5 015 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 528 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (764 confirmed cases, 651 asymptomatic cases and 113 cases with pending status) and 3 487 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 388 additional imported cases were reported, including 343 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (63 confirmed cases, 259 asymptomatic cases and 21 cases with pending status) and 45 cases that tested positive by RATs. Among the additional imported cases, 217 of them involved samples at the airport, 121 of them involved samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 50 involved samples during Day 4 to Day 7.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 989 670 and 901 961 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 26, the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 169 cases of sub-lineage XBB, six of XBD, six of BA.2.75.2, five of BA.4.6, 11 of BF.7 and 15 of BQ.1.1 among imported cases in Hong Kong, while five cases of sub-lineage XBD, one of BA.2.75.2 and three of BQ.1.1 have also been detected among local cases.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's PHLSB during October 17 to 23 for verification testing of local cases, about 0.2 per cent and 91.7 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 26, a total of 10 137 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 10 052 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 10 350 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 25), the total number of confirmed cases was 430 594, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 313 271, 31 and 243 903 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/Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30

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