Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital announces a preliminary positive case of COVID-19
***************************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital made the following announcement today (November 30) regarding a preliminary positive case of COVID-19:
      
     A 69-year-old male patient attended Accident & Emergency Department (A&E) yesterday (November 29) afternoon with fever and pneumonia symptoms. Since the patient had no contact history with COVID-19 confirmed cases, the healthcare staff conducted clinical examination and provided him with high-flow oxygen therapy in the A&E consultation room.
      
     The patient was subsequently transferred to the isolation ward for further treatment and specimen was collected for COVID-19 test. In the early hours today, it was learnt that he had been preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.
      
     Upon knowing the patient's test result, the hospital Infection Control Unit conducted contact tracing for the healthcare workers and patients who had been in contact with the patient. Five patients who stayed in the same A&E fever cubicle with the patient concerned have been classified as close contacts. Their COVID-19 test results are negative and have been arranged for isolation treatment.
      
     Meanwhile, nine A&E staff members who had not been wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while in contact with the patient were also classified as close contacts. COVID-19 test were arranged for them, all results are negative and they have been arranged for quarantine. As a precautionary measure, the hospital has arranged another 16 A&E staff who were on duty on that day to conduct COVID-19 test. 15 of them are tested negative and the test result of the remaining staff is still pending.
      
     The hospital has arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection in the A&E Department and will continue to closely monitor the health of our staff and patients and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
      
     All healthcare workers are reminded to wear full PPE when performing high-risk medical procedures.

Ends/Monday, November 30, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:09

NNNN