The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Kwong Wah Hospital made the following announcement today (December 12) regarding a nurse tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 and a supporting staff did not wear suitable respirator to carry out cleansing at ward:
A female nurse of the Isolation Ward attended Accident and Emergency Department on December 11 due to fever, chills and mild cough. She was arranged to undergo deep throat saliva test and the test result was preliminarily positive to COVID-19. She is currently in stable condition.
The last duty day of the nurse concerned was December 11. She performed general clinical nursing care duties in isolation ward including nursing care to COVID-19 confirmed patients. The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing and noticed that the nurse concerned was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines. Another nurse who had a short face-to-face conversation with the nurse concerned without mask protection during meal time was classified as close contact and require quarantine. Besides, the nurse concerned had meals with family members and friends during incubation period. Since contact tracing is still in progress, there is not enough information to determine whether the infection was acquired from community or nosocomial. As a precautionary measure, viral test would be arranged for the staff of the ward concerned.
The hospital completed thorough cleansing and disinfection for the ward concerned, staff pantry and changing room. The hospital would continue to closely monitor the health condition of the staff members and patients and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
Besides, a supporting staff carried out environmental cleansing to a ward cubicle hospitalised with COVID-19 confirmed patients on December 10 without an appropriate respirator. The hospital had reported the case to the Centre for Health Protection, the staff concerned was classified as close contact and require quarantine. No patient or hospital service was being affected. The hospital had reminded staff concerned to equip with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines.
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