The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 3,172 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 449 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,723 via rapid antigen tests. Separately, 111 imported cases were detected. Furthermore, seven residential care homes for the elderly and five for disabled people logged 13 cases involving their residents. The Hospital Authority reported that 20 patients passed away in public hospitals. According to a preliminary analysis, the cause of death for nine patients was related to COVID-19, while that of the remaining 11 patients was unrelated. It also registered eight more critical cases, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 93. Separately, to align with the Government’s cancellation of issuing isolation orders from tomorrow, the authority will, starting from the same day, announce at 8.30am and 1pm the information of general out-patient clinics (GOPC) quota reserved for COVID-19
The Government today said it is gravely concerned about the European Union's (EU) announcement of implementing an export control mechanism, and if necessary, banning the export of COVID-19 vaccines.
The EU's announcement stated that it will strive to ensure the new regulation does not affect the exports under advance purchase agreements already entered into between vaccine manufacturers and third parties.
The Government has proactively followed up with the vaccine manufacturers it has advance purchase agreements with to ensure that the vaccines procured can be supplied to Hong Kong as scheduled.
It has indicated to Fosun Pharma that it should reach out to the various relevant parties to ensure that the Fosun/BioNTech vaccine to be exported for supply to Hong Kong under the advance purchase agreement will not be affected.
The Government will closely monitor the development of the situation.
It will also continue to negotiate purchase agreements with vaccine manufacturers from around the world and the Mainland to obtain more supplies of vaccines which meet the criteria of safety, efficacy and quality, and strive for the early supply of the vaccines to Hong Kong.
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