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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Deputising Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Cheung Wai-lun, this morning (December 28) convened the Central Command Committee meeting to discuss and review thoroughly the contingency measures under the Serious Response Level in public hospitals.
Dr Cheung said the committee had discussed the arrangement of volunteer services, chaplaincy services and clinical attachment in public hospitals. It is decided that the concerned arrangement will be maintained in clinical areas but suspended in high risk areas including isolation wards, Intensive Care Units, and isolation rooms in Accident and Emergency Departments.
Under Serious Response Level, more stringent infection control measures are enforced in public hospitals including visiting arrangement. For general acute wards, the number of visiting hours per day would be no more than two hours, with no more than two visitors per visit. For convalescent and infirmary wards, the number of visiting hours per day would be no more than four hours, with no more than two visitors per visit. Visitors to public hospitals and clinics are now required to put on surgical masks and perform hand hygiene before and after visiting patient areas.
Regarding the seven contact cases (five males and two females, aged 14 to 72) of the confirmed avian influenza A(H7N9) case announced yesterday, one family member is being treated under isolation in Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre and in stable condition. Regarding the five female patients aged 35 to 87 who had stayed in the same cubicle of a medical ward in Tuen Mun Hospital, they are isolated and in stable condition.
According to the epidemiological guidelines, the staff who had been in contact with the concerned patient are under medical surveillance. A 25-year-old female doctor and a 43-year-old female radiographer had presented with respiratory tract infection symptoms. Their respiratory specimens were tested negative to H7 virus while the specimen of the female radiographer was tested positive to H3 virus.
The HA will continue to closely collaborate with the Centre for Health Protection in monitoring the latest situation and keep the general public as well as health-care workers updated on developments.
Ends/Sunday, December 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:37
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