Hospital Authority announces positive patient cases detected via admission screening or testing and clusters of nosocomial COVID-19 infections

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (July 17) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases.
      
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts:
 

Hospital/clinic Number of patients who tested positive Number of patients identified as close contacts Number of staff members without appropriate personal protective equipment identified as close contacts
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital 1 2
Tuen Mun Hospital 1 1

 
     In addition, a 70-year-old patient in a male medical ward of North District Hospital tested positive for COVID-19 via testing arrangement on July 15. The hospital conducted contact tracing. Four more patients and three staff members also tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital is investigating the linkage of the cases concerned. The five patients are currently under isolation treatment. One of the patients is in critical condition due to his underlying disease, while the others are in stable condition. Three staff members are also in stable condition.
      
     One more female patient of a palliative care ward of Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. So far, there are altogether 10 patients and five staff members tested positive. The patient concerned is being treated under insolation in stable condition.
      
     Two more student nurses and one patient care assistant of an orthopaedics and traumatology ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. So far, there are altogether six patients and three staff members tested positive.
      
     Admission and visiting arrangements for the aforementioned wards have been suspended. Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been conducted. The hospitals will continue to monitor the health condition of patients and staff members closely, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.