Health authorities on Friday reported 3,574 new Covid infections, including 216 that were imported.

A total of 1,082 Covid patients were being treated in public hospitals, almost 140 more than the day before.

Seven patients were in intensive care.

Officials said five Covid patients, aged between 64 and 90, had died in the past 24 hours. They all had either cancer or a chronic illness.

The Hospital Authority said in light of the rising number of infections in the community, staff who take care of vulnerable patients would be given extra Covid tests from Monday.