​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 18) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, October 18, the CHP was investigating 4 566 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 1 128 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (570 confirmed cases, 498 asymptomatic cases and 60 cases with pending status) and 3 438 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 388 additional imported cases were reported, including 363 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (45 confirmed cases, 286 asymptomatic cases and 32 cases with pending status) and 25 cases that tested positive by RATs. Among the additional imported cases, 263 of them involved samples at the airport, 88 of them involved samples during Day 1 to Day 3, and the remaining 37 involved samples during Day 4 to Day 7.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 976 445 and 871 718 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 18, the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) had identified 90, one, four, one, three and seven 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 one case of XBD has also been detected among local cases.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's PHLSB during October 9 to 15 for verification testing of local cases, about 0.6 per cent and 92.3 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 18, a total of 10 072 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 987 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 10 285 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 17), the total number of confirmed cases was 425 298, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 306 337, 31 and 243 288 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/Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:45

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