A customer walks with purchased flowers ahead of the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong on Jan 31, 2022. (PETER PARKS / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 116 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as a health official warned that the “situation is getting worse” with 30 new untraceable infections found across the city.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, said in a press briefing that there were 103 local infections, including 73 linked cases while the rest had untraceable sources.

Of the 103 local infections, 71 were suspected Omicron cases, 17 were suspected Delta infections, while the results for 15 cases were still pending. Chuang added that 110 patients tested preliminarily positive

Of the new local infections, 71 were suspected Omicron cases, 17 suspected Delta infections, while the test results for 15 cases were still pending. Chuang added that 110 patients tested preliminarily positive.

“The number of unlinked cases is increasing and the situation is getting worse,” Chuang said, adding that the CHP expected untraceable cases to increase further.

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Because of the short incubation period of the Omicron variant, once a patient is diagnosed, “he or she may have already infected other people in the family, or in the workplace, or other close contacts,” Chuang said. 

“So, the speed of spread is very quick and it's very difficult to contain all these cases. I mean, including the close contacts..to trace them and put them under quarantine,” she added.

Chuang said the untraceable cases were found in Sai Ying Pun, Cheung Sha Wan, Mong Kok, Tok Kwa Wan, Lam Tin, Tseung Kwan O, and Tuen Mun.

“These cases are spread all over the territory," Chuang said. “The situation is really serious now so we have to appeal to everyone to work together with us. You really have to pay attention to environmental hygiene.” 

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She also said that there were two confirmed infections and one preliminary case found at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin.

Patient Critical

Hospital Authority Chief Manager Lau Ka-hin said a 77-year-old female COVID-19 patient is in critical condition at Queen Mary’s Hospital.

The woman, who is unvaccinated and has diabetes, was admitted on Jan 24 and her condition deteriorated.

“Last night, she was transferred to the intensive care unit. She is now in critical condition,” Lau said.

Updated Discharge Criteria 

He also said that that the discharge criteria for COVID-19 patients was updated on Wednesday.

Lau said that patients who are tested thrice and show a CT value of over 33, and have no symptoms, can be discharged and quarantined at home with an electronic wristband. 

“They must still undergo 14 days of home quarantine and house surveillance and they have to be tested periodically,” he said.  

Lau said the Hospital Authority made the decision, which was approved by the CHP, after an HA and  University of Hong Kong study showed that if a patient had a CT value of over 30, it “is no longer possible to have the virus cultured.”  

“The means the virus is dead..So, for samples with CT value of over 33, the possibility of them containing the virus is very low and it will be safe for the patient to be discharged,” he said.