The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement today (March 9) regarding a patient who tested positive for COVID-19:
A 26-year-old male patient was admitted to a Medical Ward on March 3 due to pneumonia and persistent fever, and COVID-19 tests were arranged for him separately on March 3, 5 and 7 with negative results. The patient did not present with cough or sputum. As his pneumonia symptoms did not improve, clinical staff arranged bronchoscopy for him on March 8 to investigate the cause. His bronchoalveolar lavage specimen tested positive for COVID-19. The patient is currently receiving further treatment in an isolation ward with stable condition.
The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing accordingly and 11 patients who stayed in the cubicle or beds nearby are classified as close contacts and will be quarantined. The hospital has arranged viral tests for those who are still staying in the hospital and all of them tested negative. Environmental samples taken from the ward tested negative as well.
All staff members working in the ward concerned were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with infection control guidelines. No aerosol generating procedures had been performed during that period. All healthcare workers who performed bronchoscopy for the patient wore full PPE according to established guidelines. Therefore, none of the staff members have been classified as close contacts so far, while contact tracing is still underway.
The hospital has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection of the areas in the Accident and Emergency Department and the ward concerned. UCH will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of its staff and patients and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection about the latest situation.
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