Hong Kong’s COVID infections exceed 1 million

A patient is taken to a hospital in Hong Kong on Friday. Pic/AP

Hong Kong's cumulative coronavirus infections have exceeded 1 million as the city grapples with a widespread outbreak that has killed more people than the reported COVID-19 deaths in all of mainland China.

Health officials reported 20,079 confirmed infections on Friday, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 1,016,944.

Nearly 97% of those came from Hong Kong's current wave, which began in December. Since Feb. 9, nearly 5,200 people have died from the virus.

The total number of deaths in Hong Kong - 5,401 - has exceeded the 4,636 fatalities recorded in mainland China.

The city of 7.4 million is in the grip of an omicron surge that has strained its health care system as hospitals reached maximum capacity. Coffins are running out and mortuaries are so full
that bodies have to be temporarily stored in refrigerated containers.

20,96,519 No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours
46,27,58,117 Total no. of cases worldwide
60,56,725 Total no. of deaths worldwide

UK ends international travel restrictions

All remaining COVID-19 pandemic related international travel restrictions, including filling in Passenger Locator Forms before arrival and compulsory pre-departure tests for unvaccinated travellers, have been scrapped from Friday, the UK government has announced.

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