HK in ‘toughest fight’ as Covid cases hit 1,514

Coronavirus infections in Hong Kong continued to rise on Saturday to another record high of 1,514, as health officials warned that case numbers would remain at a high level for some time.

The Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Edwin Tsui, said it’s the third day this week that daily infections have exceeded 1,000. There are a further 1,500 preliminary positive cases.

Tsui said Hong Kong is facing its toughest fight against Covid-19, more than two years after the pandemic began.

Of the confirmed cases on Saturday, all but five are local infections.

He noted about 80 residents and staff members from 42 care homes had been infected in the current outbreak.

He said this is most worrying as many of the residents are unvaccinated and at risk of developing serious complications if they contract Covid-19.

Tsui said 1,500 units at the Penny’s Bay quarantine centre have been used to isolate Covid patients with no or mild symptoms.

He added that another 2,000 units will be vacated and used to isolate Covid patients by Sunday.