A woman walks along a street in Hong Kong on Sept 16, 2022. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong recorded 4,656 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday while nine infected patients passed away, bringing the city’s toll during the fifth wave to 10,024.

The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement that the new cases included 373 imported infections and 4,283 local cases. Tuesday’s figure was lower than the 4,874 cases reported yesterday and the 4,980 infections on Sunday.

The Centre for Health Protection said in a statement that the new cases included 373 imported infections and 4,283 local cases

Eleven residential care homes for the elderly and people with disabilities reported 13 new cases, the CHP said.

It added that 503 schools reported 704 students and 117 staff members getting infected. Thirty-two schools had to suspend 31 classes and two basketball team activities for one week due to infections.

The CHP also said that those linked to the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 accounted for 94.2 percent of local cases verified from Oct 2 to 8.     

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In a separate statement, the Hospital Authority said a total of 1,632 COVID patients were being treated in hospitals, including 199 new patients.

Thirty-one patients were in critical condition, including 13 receiving intensive care, while 27 were in serious condition, the HA added.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said that Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Gracie Foo Siu-wai tested positive through a deep throat saliva test.

Foo, who is undergoing isolation, last went to work on Monday. She followed social distancing measures, including wearing masks and undergoing rapid antigen tests daily. She has no recent travel history.

READ MORE: HK detects 2 new imported COVID-19 strains, tally 4,874

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said in a separate statement that it was suspending its plan to invalidate the vaccination exemption certificates provided by seven private doctors who were suspected of issuing them without proper medical diagnoses.

The government said the plan, which was supposed to take effect on Wednesday, was suspended due to the interim injunction order issued by the High Court, which is set to hear a judicial review case on the issue next week.

The government urged those who got their certificates from the seven doctors to consult other physicians, including those in general out-patient clinics under the HA, to determine if they should get vaccinated or continue to be medically exempted.