The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (August 12) regarding a nurse who was tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
A female nurse working in a medical ward at PYNEH has presented with dry throat and feverish feeling since August 9. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department on August 11 after her last duty and COVID-19 test arranged showed preliminary positive result last night. The nurse is in stable condition and will be admitted for isolation and treatment.
The nurse concerned is responsible for general clinical and nursing care duties in ward and has been equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work. According to the admission record and her work schedule, the nurse did not come into contact with any COVID-19 patients over the past two weeks in the hospital and was not required to perform high-risk medical procedures for patients.
The hospital's infection control team immediately initiated contact tracing following the case report. Initial investigation indicated that 13 staff members in the ward who have had meals during meal break with the nurse concerned would be classified as close contacts. The hospital will follow up closely with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for the required quarantine arrangement. As a precautionary measure, the hospital will also arrange viral tests and medical surveillance for other staff members and inpatients in the medical ward concerned.
The hospital had arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection in the medical ward concerned and would continue to closely monitor the situation with CHP.
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