Hong Kong's Covid death rate now world's highest

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong's Covid-19 death rate is now the highest in the world, after fatalities among the city's under-vaccinated elderly surged and concerns mounted there may be more to come as infections spread through care facilities.

The financial hub's 7-day rolling average rose to 27 deaths per 1 million people as of Sunday, going by Bloomberg calculations based on Johns Hopkins University data. This is double the rate in Latvia, which has the second-highest rate, and far surpasses the peak of the US' Omicron wave.

Hong Kong announced 25,150 new cases on Monday, with 75 patients in critical condition in hospitals. The authorities reported 161 fatalities, mostly elderly and unvaccinated, as well as the deaths of two children.

Health officials said an online platform for residents to self-report positive rapid-antigen test results is to be launched on Monday evening, and that a subsequent surge in cases being reported is to be expected.

Globally, the death toll from Covid-19 neared 6 million, going by data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg.

A total of 5,082 people departed Hong Kong on Sunday, the most since the city was hit with its most severe and far-reaching wave of Covid. That took last week's tally to a net 22,965 departures from all ports. The figure for the seven days through Sunday was 4.4 per cent higher than the previous week, according to Immigration Department data.

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Hong Kong locals and expatriates are flying out while the government plans to tackle the Covid outbreak with mass testing and a potential lockdown. Schools remain closed and restaurants have restricted hours for dining-in. Singapore is a popular choice as a bolthole.

Hong Kong will hand out HK$5,000 (S$873) spending vouchers to eligible residents in April, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said at a briefing. The date of distribution is yet to be confirmed, said Jessie Wong, head of the budget and tax policy unit of the financial secretary's office.

Hong Kong may allow one member per household to go out and buy necessities during its mass-testing effort, local media RTHK reported, citing Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan. Public transportation won't be fully suspended during mass testing, RTHK said.

The Hong Kong government is sending more government hospital patients who are being treated for ailments other than Covid-19 to private facilities if they are in a stable condition and in recovery, to free up beds in the public system, health officials said on Sunday.

"We will continue to be in touch with private hospitals to reduce pressure on public hospitals," said Larry Lee, chief manager of the Hospital Authority.

BLOOMBERG