Hong Kong Children Hospital announces a preliminarily positive case of COVID-19 infection

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) made an announcement today (August 25) on a patient tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
      
     A 19-month-old boy was admitted to HKCH yesterday (August 24) afternoon for an essential elective surgery. Health declaration was made upon admission and he did not present with fever or respiratory symptoms. Nasopharyngeal swab test was performed as a screening measure. The result released last night was preliminarily positive to COVID-19. The patient and his accompanying mother were immediately put in an isolation room of HKCH, and then transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) this morning for isolation.
      
     Subsequent blood tests were arranged for the confirmed patient and his mother by HKCH and QEH respectively. The results released today showed the presence of antibodies. They met the discharge criteria and have been discharged directly from QEH.
      
     The hospital's infection control team has immediately conducted contact tracing upon learning the preliminary positive result. It is found that two patients have stayed in the same cubicle as the confirmed patient, and their four parents have visited that cubicle on compassionate ground. With the presence of antibodies in the blood specimens of the mother and the boy, they should have acquired infection from the community earlier and have recovered. Upon discussion with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), it was agreed that there is no risk of transmission to others. Therefore, the other patients and parents in the cubicle concerned are not classified as close contacts.
      
     Staff in the ward concerned were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines. None of them are classified as close contacts.
      
     Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been conducted in the ward areas which the confirmed patient had stayed. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health condition of the patients and staff concerned, while maintaining close communication with the CHP.