Caritas Medical Centre announces nurse tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19
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Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) announced today (August 10) that a nurse has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.
A female nurse of the Medicine and Geriatric Department at CMC had an onset of malaise, throat discomfort and a mild dry cough since August 6 as well as a loss of smell and taste since August 8. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department yesterday (August 9) morning with a COVID-19 test arranged. The test result was preliminarily positive. The nurse is currently receiving isolation treatment in CMC with stable condition.
CMC reported the case to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and launched epidemiological tracing upon receiving the preliminary test result of the nurse. There are five nurses who have meals together with the preliminarily confirmed nurse being classified as a close contact. The five nurses need to be quarantined for 14 days. Another 82 staff members and 85 patients had been listed as other contacts and are subject to a 28-day medical surveillance. The test results of the five close contact staff, 60 other contact staff and 44 in-patients were negative. Testing for the rest of the inpatients and staff members is in progress.
The nurse concerned works in a female medical ward. She was required to perform clinical duties and wore appropriate personal protective equipment at work. As a precautionary measure, CMC is carefully reviewing the work schedule of the nurse. An initial investigation indicates that she has not been in contact with a COVID-19 patient over the past two weeks during work. CMC will continue to review her work schedule in detail and follow up on the case with the CHP.
CMC had already arranged a thorough cleaning and disinfection for the concerned ward, pantry and toilets used by the nurse. Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended since yesterday.
Ends/Monday, August 10, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:07
Issued at HKT 19:07
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