A total of 73 cases have been reported in the past 14 days. One of them is an import-related case, while the rest are imported cases, according to the CHP. Meanwhile, the whole genome sequencing analysis of three cases announced earlier confirmed they all carried the Omicron variant of COVID-19, bringing the total number of Omicron infections to 44 in Hong Kong.

According to Xinhua news agency, since the launch of the government inoculation programme in late February, about 4.85 million people or 72 per cent of the eligible population have taken at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, while about 4.63 million or 68.7 per cent of the eligible population have taken two doses. Meanwhile, a total of 338,405 people have taken the booster shot in Hong Kong as of 7.00 pm local time Friday, it reported.