Prince of Wales Hospital announces a staff member tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesman for the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) made the following announcement today (January 23) regarding one patient care assistant (PCA) who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:

     A 50-year-old PCA of PWH, who lives in Yat Kwai House in Kwai Chung Estate and had undergone compulsory testing on January 21, was preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 and now is being treated under isolation in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre with stable condition.

     The concerned PCA is responsible for cleansing and assisting in preparation of supplies in the Operating Theatre. She was on duty on January 19 and her COVID-19 test result from compulsory testing was negative on the same night. She had mild throat discomfort and myalgia on January 20, consulted a general practitioner and had not undergone COVID-19 test. She did not perform any high-risk clinical procedures and was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment, while working in the operating theatre on January 21 from 7.30am to 10am.

     The hospital's infection control team has conducted contact tracing and no staff members are classified as close contacts. For the sake of prudence, around 140 staff members, who worked in the same shifts with the concerned PCA on January 19 and 21, have been arranged to undergo COVID-19 tests. The hospital has also arranged six patients who are classified as other contacts to undergo COVID-19 test.

     Thorough cleansing and disinfection has been arranged for the operating theatre. PWH will continue to closely monitor the patients and staff members' health conditions and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.