According to Leung Yiu-hong, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, the recent COVID-19 activity is expected to continue to increase in the coming few weeks.
According to the latest surveillance data as of the week ending April 19, the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 virus from sewage surveillance, the percentage of specimens tested positive for the virus and the average consultation rate of COVID-19 cases in general outpatient clinics have continued to rise over the past four weeks. In the past four weeks (March 23 to April 19), the CHP recorded a total of 40 severe cases related to COVID-19 (including 10 fatal cases), with the majority of the patients being the elderly aged 65 or above. Of note, more than 90 per cent of them had not received the COVID-19 vaccine in the past six months.
Leung told doctors to advise their patients who have not received the initial dose of COVID-19 vaccine (including infants and children) to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and advise those at high risk to receive a booster dose as soon as possible for effective prevention against COVID-19 to minimise the risk of serious complications and death after infection. The following high-risk priority groups are recommended for receiving a booster dose at least six months after the last dose or last episode of COVID-19 (whichever is later), regardless of the number of doses received previously, to enhance protection:
- older adults aged 50 or above, including those living in residential care homes;
- persons aged 18 to 49 years with underlying comorbidities;
- persons with immunocompromising conditions aged 6 months
- and above;
- pregnant women; and
- healthcare workers.
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