Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s fifth wave peaked in early March, city leader confirms, says 3,000 medical staff needed to fully run 2 treatment centres
- Health officials say number of confirmed Covid-19 infections peaked on March 2 and 3, at between 76,000 and 77,000 cases per day
- More mainland Chinese medical workers continue to arrive in Hong Kong, with 300 being welcomed by city leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday
Hong Kong’s fifth Covid-19 wave peaked in early March, the city’s leader officially confirmed on Wednesday while urging the public to remain vigilant, and estimating that about 3,000 medical personnel would be needed to fully operate two major coronavirus treatment centres.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor raised the need for more manpower as she welcomed about 300 mainland Chinese medical workers into the city to provide support, the second group to arrive since the first batch of 75 on Monday.
Health officials said the number of positive Covid-19 results through rapid and PCR tests combined peaked on March 2 and 3, at between 76,000 and 77,000 cases per day. Confirmed infections, including those reported through the government’s online system, have been hovering at about 30,000 daily in the past week.
The city on Wednesday reported 29,272 new coronavirus infections and 279 related deaths, including at least 61 backlogged fatalities.
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“Since March 11, we have been at a plateau, and haven’t seen any further drop. Therefore, we have to be very careful and not let down our guard,” Lam warned.
She also said University of Hong Kong researchers had found the basic reproductive rate of the virus had recently dropped below one, meaning each patient was passing the pathogen to fewer than one other person on average.
