The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) made the following announcement today (January 24) regarding a nurse who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:

     The Psychiatric Specialist Outpatient Clinic of PWH was notified yesterday (January 23) that a patient who visited the clinic on January 18 tested positive for COVID-19. Thirty-one staff members of the clinic were arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing, and among them a 41-year-old nurse tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 last night.

     The hospital infection control team conducted contact tracing promptly. It was confirmed that the nurse, who last performed duties on January 21, had been wearing appropriate personal protective equipment at work. None of the patients or staff members have been classified as close contacts. Around 50 staff members who were on duty on January 21 have been arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing and medical surveillance. The clinic has informed the five patients who were treated by the nurse to undergo compulsory testing. 

     As a precautionary measure, the clinic concerned was temporarily closed for thorough cleaning and disinfection today. Clinic staff contacted the patients to reschedule their appointments. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of staff and patients and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     â€‹A member of the Civil Aid Service (CAS) has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 today (January 24).
      
     The member returned to the Headquarters of the CAS from January 23 to the small hours on January 24 and subsequently worked at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre (PBQC). He undertook the reception and support duties. He had been wearing full personal protective equipment (including surgical mask, face shield, cap, gown and gloves) and strictly following infection control measures while performing duties.
      
     In consideration of public health and hygiene, the CAS has immediately conducted thorough cleansing and disinfection of the areas where the member stayed. In addition, all of the personnel who were on duty at the PBQC that day have already undergone testing and no one has been identified as close contacts. The CAS has also informed the duty team of the member concerned to go to the community testing centre for testing on every single day of the following three days. If any members feel unwell, they should seek medical attention and report to the CAS immediately.
      
     During the pandemic, the CAS has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including requiring staff to wear face masks when in contact with others and at public places, maintaining social distancing and stepping up cleansing and disinfection. The CAS has reminded all staff to redouble the efforts to observe personal hygiene.
      
     Given that no one has been identified as close contacts so far, the PBQC continues to operate normally.

     The Government today (January 24) strongly appealed again to all sectors including foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to fight the virus together. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conducted joint operations with several government departments over the past two weekends again at popular places in different districts where FDHs commonly gather to carry out publicity and educational work, appealing to them to raise awareness of epidemic prevention and comply with the various anti-epidemic regulations and restrictions.

     The FEHD, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Labour Department, relevant District Offices, the Immigration Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, conducted joint operations over the past two weekends (January 15 and 16 and January 22 and 23) at various public places in the Central, Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong, Tseung Kwan O, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po districts, near popular FDH gathering places during weekends and public holidays. Apart from arranging for cleaning contractors to strengthen the street cleaning services at the relevant spots, the FEHD also stepped up patrols to combat unlicensed hawking activities. During the operation, cooking paraphernalia and over 40 kilograms of cooked food were seized. Promotional leaflets in multiple languages were also distributed by the FEHD to appeal to FDHs to maintain environmental hygiene and refrain from conducting unlicensed hawking activities. FDHs were also reminded by other government departments to comply with the regulations on mask wearing and the prohibition of group gatherings in public places.

     To minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, the spokesman strongly appealed to all to stay vigilant and comply with the relevant regulations on prevention and control of disease in a concerted and persistent manner around the Lunar New Year and during the long holidays. The FEHD will continue its enforcement actions and publicity efforts. All sectors including FDHs are reminded to exercise self-discipline and co-operate to fight the virus together.   

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (January 24) regarding a COVID-19 case:

     A 78-year-old male patient living in Yat Kwai House of Kwai Chung Estate visited the Day Chemotherapy Centre of PMH for receiving chemotherapy on January 17. He developed fever on January 19. He was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of PMH by ambulance due to persistent fever and throat discomfort on January 22. He was then conveyed to isolation ward for treatment. His sample was tested positive for COVID-19 on January 23. The patient is now in stable condition.
      
     The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing. One patient care assistant is classified as a close contact at this moment and waiting for quarantine. No patients are classified as close contacts.
      
     Thorough cleaning and disinfection have been arranged at the Day Chemotherapy Centre and its operation remains normal. PMH will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department starts to disburse subsidies to successful applicants under the Club-house Subsidy Scheme, Amusement Game Centres (AGCs) Subsidy Scheme and the Mahjong/Tin Kau (MJ/TK) Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme set up under the fresh round of Anti-epidemic Fund starting from next week.
 
     The application period for the above three schemes started on January 17. As of today (January 24), the OLA has received a total of 327 applications under the three schemes. Among the applications received, around 244 applications have been approved involving subsidies of around $14 million. The OLA has expedited the processing of the applications to disburse as many as possible of the subsidies to successful applicants before the Lunar New Year. 
 
     The three schemes provide a subsidy of $50,000 to eligible holders of valid Certificates of Compliance (CoC) issued under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (Cap. 376), amusement game centre operators and MJ/TK licence holders. An additional subsidy of $25,000 will be provided to each permit/licence for CoC holders who also operate karaoke establishments, nightclubs or bars/pubs in their clubhouse premises.
    
     The application deadline for the three schemes is February 17. Eligible operators should submit an application to the OLA as soon as possible. Details and the application forms for the three subsidy schemes are available on the website of the OLA (www.hadla.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the OLA at 3620 3062 (Club-house Subsidy Scheme), 2116 5230 (AGCs Subsidy Scheme) or 2117 2977 (MJ/TK Licence Holder Subsidy Scheme).