Hospital Authority announces clusters of nosocomial infections of COVID-19

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for the Hospital Authority made the following announcement today (February 11) on clusters of nosocomial infections of COVID-19: 

     Regarding the cluster of cases in a medical ward announced by Caritas Medical Centre yesterday (February 10), two nurses and one agency patient care assistant tested preliminary positive. The three staff members are in stable condition.

     A 97-year-old male patient in a medical and geriatrics ward in Shatin Hospital tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 yesterday. The hospital’s infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing and arranged testing for all patients and staff members in the ward concerned. Five male patients (aged 69 to 98) were tested preliminarily positive. All patients are being treated under isolation in stable condition. 36 patients stayed in the same ward were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. All staff members were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment during work and none of them is identified as a close contact.

     A 44-year-old female patient in an obstetrics and gynaecology ward in Tuen Mun Hospital tested preliminarily positive during an admission screening yesterday. The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing immediately and arranged testing for all patients and staff members in the ward concerned. Two female patients (aged 39 and 45) tested preliminarily positive. All patients are being treated under isolation in stable condition. Eight patients in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. One nurse and one patient care assistant, who handled the patient’s vomitus without wearing appropriate eye protection equipment, were identified as close contacts and will be quarantined.

     Admission to the wards concerned had been suspended, and thorough cleaning and disinfection were arranged. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health condition of patients and staff members and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.