[News from the News]Hong Kong’s new crown epidemic has not rebounded recently due to the cancellation of hotel quarantine, but overseas countries have reproduced a new variant of the new coronavirus Omicron subtype BA.2.75. The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Authority, Gao Basheng, said that sporadic cases have been recorded in Hong Kong. Although international data indicate that the critical rate of BA.2.75 is similar to BA.5, another Omicron virus strain prevalent in Hong Kong, BA.2.75.2 has “immune” “Escape” features, the contagion may be high, and the authorities will closely monitor the situation. Another expert pointed out that BA.2.75.2 is resistant to new crown drugs.
Gao Basheng said that since the recent peak of the epidemic in Hong Kong at the beginning of last month, the number of confirmed cases in a single day has been rampant between 3,000 and more than 4,000, but the number of imported cases and hospital admissions has increased slightly. He pointed to the preparations made by the authorities to deal with the BA.5 variant strain, including a large increase in designated clinics, the provision of video consultations and drug delivery services. If the demand for services in winter increases, the authorities will increase the volume of services and cooperate with private hospitals to make multiple preparations.
Drug-resistant strong materials become mainstream strains
As for the approaching peak of influenza in winter, Gao means that Hong Kong people have not been infected with influenza on a large scale in the past two years, and their influenza resistance may be poor this year. He said that the peak of influenza usually occurs from January to March every year, and the number of medical consultations is expected to increase following the Lunar New Year, and the authorities have arranged hospital beds to respond. At present, regarding 80% of non-emergency services have been restored in public hospitals. Apart from the impact of the epidemic, the loss of manpower in the past two years has also been serious. It is emphasized that the bureau will train new personnel as soon as possible to resume services.
Cui Junming, president of the Hong Kong Society of Hospital Pharmacists, said that BA.2.75.2 is highly resistant to the oral and injectable new crown drugs currently used in Hong Kong. It is estimated that BA.2.75 may replace BA.5 in the future and become the mainstream virus strain in Hong Kong. Although the second-generation new crown vaccine will be effective for BA.2.75 and BA.2.75.2, the timing and supply of the second-generation vaccine to Hong Kong have not yet been determined.