The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Princess Margaret Hospital today (April 13) announced an incident concerning the negative pressure wards in the Infectious Disease Centre:
      
     At 2.55pm today, when the contract-out maintenance staff of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department repaired the air-conditioning system of the Infectious Disease Centre of the hospital, the air-conditioning system and the negative pressure exhaust system of the seven floors suddenly stopped for 5 to 34 minutes, activating the alarm system.  The hospital immediately took contingency measures. The air-conditioning system and negative pressure exhaust system resumed at 3.34pm.
      
     According to preliminary investigation, staff working in all floors have adopted appropriate protective equipment during the affected period.  The negative pressure wards on the affected floors are equipped with double doors, housing 69 patients, including 44 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and the remaining patients include suspected cases and patients with other infectious diseases.  Preliminary investigation by the hospital confirmed that none of the patients in the negative pressure wards had left the ward during the incident, and no healthcare staff had performed any high risk procedures on these floors. There are no other wards nor patients on the floors concerned, hence the infection risk is considered to be very low.
       
     The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has notified the Hospital Authority Head Office and requested the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to investigate and submit a report as soon as possible.

Ends/Monday, April 13, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:41

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