This came as the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported 26,908 new coronavirus infections – 12,040 confirmed by laboratories and 14,868 declared by people taking rapid tests.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the CHP said the number of infections remains at a high level and could increase if people are complacent.
On top of the 249 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Hospital Authority reported another 37 which occurred earlier but had not been announced.
Asked about the record daily death toll, a chief manager of the authority, Dr Lau Ka-hin, said officials are working to improve services to prevent serious cases and deaths.
“What we aim in our future is how to prevent the patients turning from mild cases to serious, as well as from serious to deaths. This is our aim in treating our patients… including first of all, we will triage the needy patients to go into the hospitals, for example, the elderly and patients who are immunocompromised,” he said.
“At the same time, we also expand our facilities in treating the patients, meaning more patients can receive better care in appropriate settings.”
A total of 4,066 Covid patients have died in the latest wave of infections.
The CHP said over 95 percent of those who passed away were over the age of 60.
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USEFUL LINKS
General Covid-19 situation: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/
Covid-19 testing: https://www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/
Community Clinics for Covid-19 patients: https://bit.ly/3q3tz6G
RAT reporting platform: https://www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/
Vaccination programme: https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/
Vaccination pass scheme: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/vaccine-pass.html
Hotline for Covid-positive patients: 1836 115