The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) made the following announcement today (May 29) concerning the temporary suspension of the negative pressure system in an isolation ward:
At 10.17am today, the alarm for the negative pressure system of the isolation rooms inside an isolation ward lighted up and staff immediately notified the staff of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). Technicians from the EMSD attended to the scene at 10.32am for an inspection and rebooted the system manually at 10.35am. The ventilation and negative pressure system of the concerned ward resumed operation immediately.　
Inspection revealed that the suspension of ventilation and negative pressure system of the isolation ward was due to a faulty direct digital controller of the Mechanical Ventilation and Air-conditioning system. At 2.30pm, technicians from the EMSD replaced the faulty part and the ventilation and negative pressure system resumed fully automatic operation.
Nine patients not suffering from airborne infectious disease were hospitalised in the concerned ward. Other three patients, including one patient with open-tuberculosis of low airborne infectious risk who had received over two weeks treatment, one patient suspected of closed-tuberculosis and one COVID-19 suspected patient were transferred to another isolation ward in the hospital for treatment. The patient was tested negative for COVID-19.
During the incident, no personnel has entered or left the rooms nor has any high risk procedure been performed. All patients and all ward staff have worn surgical masks and N95 respirators respectively. According to the hospital's assessment, the incident did not pose any risk of infection.
The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has urged the EMSD to perform thorough checking to the system to ensure its proper functioning. The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.
Follow this news feed: East Asia