The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (February 10) regarding a cluster of patients preliminarily confirmed for COVID-19 in a medical ward:
A clinical preceptor tested positive for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test on February 7. He subsequently tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 in Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital on the next day.
The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing. A nurse worked in the same hospital, who had meal with the preceptor, was identified as close contact. The nurse subsequently tested preliminarily positive on February 8.
The last working day of the preceptor was February 7. The preceptor had performed clinical coaching in two cubicles of the ward, who was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work. The preceptor had no contact with patient confirmed with COVID-19 and did not involve in any high risk clinical procedures.
The hospital arranged tests for the patients stayed in the cubicles concerned yesterday. Two male patients (aged 74 and 78) tested preliminarily positive. The hospital arranged screening tests for all patients and staff members in the ward this morning. Three more male patients (aged 63 to 100) tested preliminarily positive. All patients are in stable condition. In addition, a nurse tested preliminarily positive but the nurse did not stay with the preceptor at them same time in the ward. The source of infection is being investigated.
The Chair Professor of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and other infection control experts visited the ward concerned this afternoon to review the patient and staff cases, workflow of the ward and the hospital's infection control measures. Professor Yeun was satisfied with the hospital's infection control measures and made the following recommendations.
- Preceptor who required long time teaching in clinical area should wear a surgical respirator;
- No quarantine is required for staff member but daily rapid antigen test before duty is required;
- Consider wearing two masks or a mask closer to face shape and;
- Healthcare workers should pay attention to personal and family health conditions, and test is required even having mild symptoms.
Admission to the medical ward concerned will be suspended for seven days, where thorough cleaning and disinfection have been performed. The hospital will continue closely monitor the health conditions of staff and patients and communicate with the Centre for Protection on the latest situation.
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