United Christian Hospital announces patient tests preliminary positive for COVID-19

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement today (March 22) concerning a patient who tested preliminary positive for COVID-19:

     An 88-year-old male patient was admitted to the UCH Accident and Emergency Department (AED) in the early morning of  March 22 due to shortness of breath and fever. Healthcare staff arranged an admission screening COVID-19 test for the patient according to established procedures and the test result was preliminary positive. He was transferred to the isolation ward for further treatment and is currently in stable condition.

     The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing accordingly. As a male patient who stayed in the same cubicle in the AED with the index patient did not wear his surgical mask properly, he was identified as close contact and will be quarantined. All staff members working in the AED were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines. No aerosol generating procedures had been performed during that period. Therefore, none of the staff members are being classified as close contacts so far, while contact tracing is still underway.
 
     The hospital has arranged a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the areas in the AED. UCH will continue to closely monitor the health condition of its staff and patients, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection about the latest situation.