The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (June 18) that starting next Monday (June 21), visitors and day patients will be exempted from regular or advance virus testing if they have completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccination for more than 14 days and present a valid vaccination record.
The HA spokesperson said, "Real world data from all over the world shows that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective. With compliance with other infection control measures, fully vaccinated people will have a low risk of transmitting the disease in the hospitals."
Whether it is a compassionate or emergency visit, or a special visit arrangement in a non-acute hospital, visitors who have completed two doses of vaccination for more than 14 days can be exempted from virus testing.
"Currently, to minimise the infection risk for inpatients and staff, one-off visitors are required to present a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result obtained within 72 hours before the scheduled visit. Regular visitors can choose to conduct weekly testing. In addition, compassionate or emergency visitors can opt to perform a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before the visit, or perform a rapid antigen test immediately after the visit."
The exemption is also applicable to all day patients who have completed two doses of vaccination in using ambulatory services such as those at haemodialysis centres and geriatric day hospitals.
The spokesperson reiterated that all visitors entering public hospitals are required to comply with the infection control measures, such as wearing surgical masks, having their temperature checked and filling in health declaration forms. Day patients are required to follow the no-eating arrangement.
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