Hong Kong reported more than 30,000 new COVID-19 cases for the second day in a row on Tuesday and 172 more deaths.
One of the fatalities involved a 58-year-old man with no chronic illness.
Larry Lee, the Hospital Authority’s chief manager for integrated clinical services, said the man was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Sunday afternoon with pneumonia and pulmonary edema.
He passed away the next morning.
When asked if there was a delay of treatment for the man, Lee said the 58-year-old was admitted quickly due to his condition.
“Of course, there is tremendous pressure on the accident and emergency departments, but for urgent cases, we will still handle them very quickly,” said the chief manager.
“He was unwell for 10 days before consulting the doctor. I believe maybe he was a bit late [in seeking treatment in the hospital].”
Lee added the man was not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Besides the man, 116 patients with the coronavirus died on Monday, aged 47 to 99.
A total of 86 had no vaccination record.
There was also a backlog of 55 deaths, which were not announced earlier due to a delay in reporting. Their ages ranged from 57 to 102.
A total of 808 COVID-19 patients have died in public hospitals in the fifth wave.
As of last night, 57 people were in critical condition and 88 serious.
The Centre for Health Protection announced 32,597 daily infections, with all but five locally transmitted.
This brings the tally of cases in the current wave to 225,746.
The Hospital Authority also announced that all 160 beds in North Lantau Hospital will be converted for use for COVID-19 patients from Wednesday, in order to concentrate resources and manpower.
Ambulances will only send urgent cases to the hospital. Other cases will be sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in Lai Chi Kok.
Patients currently admitted to North Lantau Hospital will also be transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital.
