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
A satellite community vaccination centre will be set up on 7/F, Leighton Centre in Causeway Bay to provide the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination service from next Friday, the Government announced.
Online reservations can be made starting from 9am next Tuesday. All eligible citizens can get their first, second or third dose of the BioNTech jab at the centre, but no same-day tickets will be distributed there.
The centre will operate daily from 8am to 8pm, and will be closed between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for cleaning.
Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said: “After the provision of outreach vaccination service at shopping malls, this is another new effort by the Government to establish a COVID-19 vaccination centre in a non-governmental venue in the Causeway Bay business district with a high flow of people and convenient transportation.
“We are most grateful to Hysan Development for providing the venue free of charge and joining the Government to promote COVID-19 vaccination and enhance the vaccination capacity in a short time so that more people can have vaccine protection as early as possible.”
Operated by the medical group of the community vaccination centre at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre, the Causeway Bay jab centre is retrofitted from a car park with a dedicated lift for direct access from the ground floor of Leighton Centre, the Government said.
To facilitate the public’s understanding of COVID-19 vaccines, the Government will set up a COVID-19 vaccination resource centre on UG/F of Leighton Centre from next Friday to provide relevant information including vaccination venues and the latest situation of COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Government reiterated that the minimum age for receiving the Sinovac vaccine is five, while the minimum age for receiving the BioNTech jab will be lowered to five from February 16. Children aged five to 11 have to get their BioNTech jab at the three children community vaccination centres at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre and Gleneagles Hospital.
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