Public hospitals response level stands down to Alert

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (May 30) that public hospitals will stand down the response level from Emergency Response Level to Alert Response Level with immediate effect to dovetail with the Government's decision to stand down the response level from Emergency to Alert under the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance, in view of the latest situation of COVID-19.
     
     Under the Alert Response Level, members of the public are reminded that the following measures will be implemented in public hospitals and clinics:
 

• Visiting arrangements in public hospitals resumed earlier will persist: visiting hours will be not more than four hours per day and not more than two visitors per visit for all acute wards; and not more than six hours per day and not more than two visitors for all convalescent and rehabilitation wards. Please refer to the notice posted in respective wards for details;
• Patients, visitors and staff members are required to wear surgical masks in the patient care areas of public hospitals and clinics;
• Patients, visitors and staff members are required to maintain personal and environmental hygiene at all times, and pay special attention to hand hygiene; and
• All volunteer services and clinical attachment resumed earlier in public hospitals will continue.

 
     In addition, the Special Chinese Medicine Programme for COVID-19 In-patients provided at the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre will be suspended.
 
     The HA spokesman said, "Posters and notices will be displayed in public hospitals and clinics to remind members of the public of the standing down of the response level and the corresponding revised arrangements. The triage assessment for fever patients with respiratory symptoms will remain unchanged and continue at Accident and Emergency Departments and General Outpatient Clinics."
 
     "In close collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, we will stay vigilant to monitor the latest developments of different infectious diseases and the need to update measures. We will continue to keep the public and healthcare professionals informed of the latest situation and provide relevant information," the spokesman added.