The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Subsequent to the announcement early today (April 8) that a staff member at the Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club General Outpatient Clinic (SWHJCGOPC) has tested positive to COVID-19, the spokesperson of the North District Hospital (NDH) gave the following update:
An operation assistant who is chiefly responsible for cleansing duties was confirmed yesterday (April 7) to have been infected by COVID-19. She was hospitalised at NDH under isolation. The hospital has traced her contacts at the clinic, including doctors, nurses, patient care assistants and other operation assistants etc. Five of them are identified as close contacts and put under quarantine with one presenting with disease symptoms. Viral tests are being arranged for them by the Centre for Health Protection.
As at 6pm, 45 other staff members who have recently worked at the clinic at the same work hours of the confirmed staff member have also been arranged to receive viral tests. As a precautionary measure, three of them have been transferred to the isolation ward pending the availability of test results. 27 of them were tested negative while other results are still pending. More tests may be arranged upon further expert assessment. The health condition of all the staff will continue to be monitored.
As the confirmed staff member had also worked in the Ta Kwu Ling General Outpatient Clinic on April 2, the Clinic will also be closed tomorrow (April 9) for thorough disinfection. Meanwhile, the disinfection and follow-up work for SWHJCGOPC is still underway. It will continue to be closed tomorrow. No service will be provided during the public holidays from April 10 to April 13. For patients with appointment being affected, clinic staff will arrange for them to attend the Fanling Family Medicine Centre in the same district. For enquiries, patients can call the clinic hotline: 2670 0211.
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