The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at 0.00am today (April 25), a total of 2 002 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently being treated in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infect… read more
​The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 25) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, April 25, the CHP was investigating 242 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by nucleic acid tests (96 confirmed cases, 100 asymptomatic cases and 46 cases with pending case status) in the past 24 hours. Separately, 189 additional positive cases through rapid antigen tests (RAT) (109 symptomatic cases and 80 asymptomatic cases) were reported. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 757 522 and 444 769 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.
The aforementioned newly reported cases consist of 16 imported cases (11 cases and five cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RAT respectively). The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations on the cases. Please refer to the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.
In addition, as of 0.00am, April 25, a total of 9 054 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 8 985 and 66 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 9 267 death cases that have 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 (April 24), the total number of confirmed cases was 329 169, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 196 923, 10 and 231 178 respectively.
The spokesman for the CHP stressed that as the local situation of COVID-19 infection is still severe, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings (particularly religious or cross-family activities and gatherings). This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.
​The spokesman reminded 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 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. Meanwhile, a person who gets COVID-19 and influenza at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. Influenza vaccination may reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation and the length of stay. In addition, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).
The Department of Health (DH) reminded the public today (April 25) that the use of vaccines can protect people of all ages against vaccine preventable diseases, to tie in with World Immunization Week, a global initiative organised by the World Health Organization in the last week of April.
A spokesman for the DH said, “World Immunization Week 2022, under the theme ‘#Long Life for All’, promotes the idea that vaccines make it possible for us to pursue our dreams, protect our loved ones and live a long, healthy life. Vaccines provide important health benefits from the early stage of life to ensure that children can have long lives and grow into healthy adults.”
Immunisation is recognised as one of the most successful, safe and cost-effective public health interventions and protects millions of people each year globally from serious and often deadly diseases including measles, hepatitis B and even some forms of cancer.
In Hong Kong, with the long-established childhood immunisation programme, polio was eradicated locally in 2000 after global smallpox eradication in 1980, while measles and rubella were declared eliminated in 2016 and 2021 respectively.
As recommended by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, children from birth to Primary Six should receive different types of vaccines and boosters under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme to protect them from tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, pneumococcal infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella. To prevent cervical cancer, eligible female primary school students are provided with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under the programme.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunisation services for infants and children in the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres are continuing as usual. Vaccination at primary schools will be arranged by the DH’s School Immunisation Teams at schools or arrangements will be made for students to receive vaccination at branches. As delays in vaccination will weaken the protection for children against relevant infectious diseases, parents are reminded to maintain up-to-date vaccination for their children for timely protection against infectious diseases.
Vaccination is a top priority in the Government’s anti-COVID-19 measures. A territory-wide COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been launched. In addition to personal protection, parents and carers should consider receiving COVID-19 vaccination in order to protect children who cannot yet receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Moreover, taking reference from the earlier recommendation of the SCVPD and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP of the DH joined by the Chief Executive’s expert advisory panel, flexibility could be exercised by allowing provision of COVID-19 vaccines with seasonal influenza vaccine or other childhood immunisation vaccines during the same visit for vaccination under informed consent for convenience and achieving better coverage. read more
​Hong Kong Customs last Friday (April 22) arrested a woman suspected of engaging in wrongly accepting payment when selling face masks on the Internet, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
Customs earlier received information alleging that an online seller was suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices in the course of sale of face masks through a social media platform page. After investigation, Customs officers found that the brand name and the quantity of the face masks provided by the online seller were materially different from those of the orders placed by the customers after the seller received payments from them.
Customs officers subsequently conducted an operation last Friday and arrested a 29-year-old woman suspected to be in connection with the case.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested woman has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and refrain from engaging in unfair trade practices when supplying goods.
Moreover, consumers are reminded to procure products at reputable shops and to get familiar with the market price ranges of the products. They should remain more alert to unusual prices offered by online traders when procuring products in order to avoid losses. Before making a transactional decision and settling the payment, consumers should also take note of whether a complete and valid business address as well as contact information are provided on the websites or social media platform pages so that follow-up action could be taken when encountering problems in the future.
Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in a medical ward, the spokesperso… read more