Princess Margaret Hospital announces a staff member tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (January 23) regarding a patient care assistant (PCA) who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:

     A 53-year-old PCA of PMH had sore throat on January 21. She took the COVID-19 test by self-purchased rapid antigen test kit on January 22 and the result was preliminarily positive. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of PMH in the evening and now is being treated under isolation in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre with stable condition.

     The PCA concerned works at a ward of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of PMH. She is responsible for assisting nurses in healthcare procedures. She does not perform any high-risk clinical procedures and is equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work.

     The PCA concerned visited a friend who lives in Yat Kwai House in Kwai Chung Estate and had meal together on January 16.

     The hospital's infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Two inpatients in the ward concerned are classified as close contacts. Both of them are tested negative for COVID-19. Another PCA who works in the same ward is also classified as a close contact. Her current test result for COVID-19 is negative.

     Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended. Thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged. PMH will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.