The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: As at 0.00am today (May 27), a total of 451 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 59 new patients. Among the pat… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 27) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, May 27, the CHP was investigating 105 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by nucleic acid tests (40 confirmed cases, 52 asymptomatic cases and 13 cases with pending case status) in the past 24 hours. Separately, 145 additional positive cases through rapid antigen tests (RATs) (71 symptomatic cases and 74 asymptomatic cases) were reported. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 761 725 and 449 863 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 29 imported cases (22 cases and seven cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs 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.
Meanwhile, according to the whole genome sequencing analysis by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 13 cases, 75 cases, 12 cases and three cases carrying the sub-lineages BA.2.12, BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 under the Omicron mutant strain respectively.
In addition, as of 0.00am, May 27, a total of 9 162 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 084 and 75 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 9 375 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 (May 26), the total number of confirmed cases was 332 181, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 198 956, 24 and 230 459 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. 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. read more
The Chief Executive (CE), Mrs Carrie Lam, chaired the 265th meeting of the Fight Crime Committee (FCC) today (May 27).
Since its establishment in 1973, the FCC has been shouldering the responsibility of planning and guiding the fight against crime. It provides advice and recommends measures to prevent and reduce crime, as well as co-ordinates and monitors the effectiveness of crime-fighting efforts.
Mrs Lam said, “The FCC is an important partner of the Government. I served as the chairperson of the FCC in my capacity as the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) under the previous term of Government, and had worked very closely with the FCC in maintaining the law and order of Hong Kong. It is my pleasure to personally chair the last FCC meeting of this term of Government as the CE today. As professional as always, members have discussed and reviewed the measures to prevent and reduce crimes; and provided practical observations and suggestions.”
At the meeting, members were briefed on the following issues:
(i) The law and order situation of Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2022 remained stable. There were a total of 13 866 crimes recorded, a decrease of 6.2 per cent when compared with the same period of 2021, and a decrease of 10 per cent in violent crime was recorded. The detection rate was 29.2 per cent. Overall crimes registered a decrease, mainly due to the drop of various major crimes, including robbery, burglary, wounding and serious assault, criminal intimidation, criminal damage, theft and serious drug offences, etc. However, increases were registered for crimes including homicide, deception and blackmail cases. The FCC supported the Police to continue their efforts in combating various crimes through devoting resources for publicity and education, adopting a multi-agency approach and stepping up intelligence-led enforcement operations, especially against online deception cases and youngsters committing criminal offences;
(ii) The total number of reported drug abusers, young drug abusers and young people arrested for drug offences in 2021 had increased. The FCC noted that more people (especially youngsters) were reported to have abused cocaine and cannabis. They expressed concerns about the increase in the number of persons arrested for drug offences in 2021 by 20 per cent (from 3 849 persons to 4 634 persons) when compared with that in 2020. During the same period, the number of young arrestees aged under 21 for serious drug offences increased by 37 per cent (from 339 persons to 465 persons). The FCC was of the view that although the overall drug abuse and drug situation in Hong Kong was generally under control, the community needed to stay vigilant, especially in drug offences involving young people;
(iii) The Correctional Services Department (CSD) would continue to organise various public education activities and publicity campaigns in 2022-23 to appeal for public acceptance of and community support for rehabilitated offenders, apart from helping the prevention of crime and educating the public on the operation of the Hong Kong criminal justice system. The FCC supported the CSD’s efforts in the rehabilitation of offenders, and members were pleased to note that these activities had received positive response from the community; and
(iv) To strengthen the co-operation with local organisations in the prevention and reduction of crime, the FCC would continue to provide funding to the District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs) in organising different fight crime publicity activities in 2022-23, with a view to complementing the territory-wide anti-crime publicity campaign in disseminating fight crime messages to various sectors in the community.
Mrs Lam further said, “I would like to thank the FCC and DFCCs for their valuable advice and suggestions to the law enforcement agencies over the years in maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. I am confident that with our concerted efforts, Hong Kong would continue to be one of the safest cities in the world.”
The CS is the chairperson of the FCC. As the post of the CS has been left vacant, the meeting today was chaired by the CE.
The Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 27) that a trial queue ticketing system will be implemented for driving licensing related services at the Kowloon Licensing Office (KLO) from May 31 (Tuesday) to reduce the number of people waiting at the lobby.
For various driving licensing services and applications for driving tests, if no prior online appointment has been made, applicants are required to obtain a queue ticket on-site before using the counter services. The distribution arrangement of same-day queue tickets is as follows:
The task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) continues to work closely with its Mainland counterparts. Most of the anti-epidemic medical supplies have arrived in Hong Kong in good order and have been distributed to frontline personnel and citizens in need through various channels with a view to stabilising the fifth wave of the epidemic.
A spokesman for the CEDB said today (May 27) that with the staunch support of the Central Government, over 30 types of medical supplies broadly under five main categories, namely testing, personal protection, disinfection, medication and equipment, procured with the co-ordination of the Central Government, have been received.
The supplies include 260 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, over 460 million N95/KN95/surgical/medical masks, around 210 million sets of personal protective equipment (including protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers and surgical/examination gloves), and 1.6 million pulse oximeters. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses gratitude to the Central Government for its donation of 600 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines. All of them have been distributed through the Food and Health Bureau to residents subject to “restriction-testing declarations”, and through the Hospital Authority to confirmed patients in isolation facilities and those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics.
The task force had earlier provided the Home Affairs Department with over 70 million RAT kits and KN95 masks respectively for distribution to households in Hong Kong via over 3 million anti-epidemic service bags. Millions of additional RAT kits were also made available for collection by people in need at anti-epidemic service bag distribution points. The service bags distributed also included over 7 million boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines procured with the co-ordination of the Central Government. Meanwhile, following the resumption of classes in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in phases, all students and teaching staff are required to conduct an RAT before returning to school every day. The task force has distributed 10 million RAT kits to schools via the Education Bureau for use by financially needy students.
The remaining supplies will continue to be distributed to frontline personnel of anti-epidemic work, persons with higher infection risks (such as residents subject to “restriction-testing declarations” or living in areas testing positive under sewage tracing) and people working in high-risk industries (such as cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, property management staff, cleaning staff and staff of residential care homes for the elderly) through multiple channels. Relevant supplies are being provided daily to confirmed patients and their close contacts and family members in the form of anti-epidemic kits.
The rest of the medical supplies, such as RAT kits and high-grade protective masks in higher demand, are centrally managed and stored by the Government Logistics Department for use and regular withdrawal by relevant departments to meet their demands in the coming months. The task force will continue to review the situation and adjust in a timely manner the procurement of medical supplies according to the Government’s anti-epidemic policies and measures.
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