Tuen Mun Hospital announces a pregnant woman tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19
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The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (August 30) concerning a pregnant woman tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
A 31-year-old woman at 39 weeks of gestation attended the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) of TMH yesterday (August 29) morning. She reported to have fever for several days and felt unwell. She did not have fever at the A&E triage station. After initial assessment, she was transferred to a Medicine and Geriatric (M&G) ward for further management. During her stay, she had also been transferred to the antenatal ward for examination and received the COVID-19 test in a surveillance ward. The preliminary test result available that night revealed that she was positive to COVID-19. The patient was then transferred to an isolation ward. Both the pregnant woman and the fetus are now in stable condition.
TMH has reported the incident to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Infection Control Unit has reviewed the patient journey carefully. It was confirmed that the index patient has put on surgical mask during her stay. There were 10 female patients being identified as close contact including another pregnant lady who had stayed in the same cubicle. They have to undergo 14 days quarantine. TMH will closely monitor their conditions. No close contact was identified in the antenatal ward as the index patient underwent an examination in a single consultation room.
All staff members, who have contacted with the index patient, were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment. As a precautionary measure, 15 staff members from the Department of Medicine and Geriatrics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including two doctors, eight nurses and five patient care assistants, will be put under medical surveillance for 28 days. Since the index patient is already at 39 weeks of gestation, TMH is closely monitoring her condition and has prepared the delivery arrangement and neonatal care according to established guidelines.
TMH is very concerned about this incident. If a pregnant woman is near full term and has reported fever for a few days, it would be more appropriate to admit her into an isolation ward for further management. However, this case was arranged to be admitted to a general M&G ward and the transferal between departments for examinations was considered suboptimal since it would have increased the risk of infection to other patients. TMH is reviewing the handling of this case which includes the admission arrangement and interdepartmental communication. TMH has approached those patients being affected and apologised for the inconvenience that has been caused.
Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been arranged in wards and consultation room concerned. TMH will continue to communicate with the CHP for updates.
Ends/Sunday, August 30, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:24
Issued at HKT 21:24
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