Hong Kong’s health officials reported a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, with the overall activity rate reaching or exceeding levels seen in August last year. According to Dr. Kwok Ka-wing, director of the Centre for Health Protection’s Infectious Disease Division, there have been 75 adult severe cases in the past month, a sharp increase from just 17 cases the previous month. Additionally, the number of related deaths in adults has surged from 3 to 26.
Dr. Kwok noted that around 85% of severe cases involve elderly individuals aged 65 and above, with approximately 64% of them residing in nursing homes. Furthermore, about 95% of these severe cases have chronic conditions, and more than 95% have not received a booster vaccine in the last six months.
The potential for further outbreaks is heightened by rising virus levels detected in sewage, higher test positivity rates, and increased hospital visits. Over the past four weeks, the rate of positive respiratory sample tests reached 11.42%, marking the highest level in almost a year.
Dr. Kwok also emphasized the concerning increase in outbreaks at nursing homes, with 32 outbreaks occurring between April 20 and May 10, involving 177 patients, 60% of whom were elderly residents who missed booster doses. Just within the first two days of this week, five outbreaks were reported, affecting 23 people.
Professor Kwong Fan-yee, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, predicts that the peak of the COVID-19 wave will last for three to four months, with cases reaching their highest point in the next two weeks and remaining high for the next six to eight weeks.
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