By Riyaz ul Khaliq
11 December 2020•Update: 11 December 2020
ANKARA
Hong Kong authorities are ramping up efforts to procure vaccines as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
The business hub has seen over 100 infections for three consecutive days, including 112 on Thursday, raising its total to 7,291, Chinese daily Global Times reported Friday.
The government, led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, has tasked Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po to “speed up procurement of vaccines from overseas and mainland China.”
Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection (CHP) said most of the new infections were local, including some of “unknown origin,” and warned of “silent transmission chains in communities.”
Chui Tak-yi, a food and health official, said the outbreak “is continuing to be severe, with the number of confirmed cases climbing and colder weather allowing the virus to survive for longer.”
Around 75% of the negative pressure, or isolation, beds in the city’s hospitals have already been utilized, according to authorities.
Some 1,135 COVID-19 patients are being treated in 22 public hospitals and a community treatment facility, with at least 43 patients said to be in critical condition.
