The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (January 9) concerning a patient tested positive to COVID-19:
      
     A 61-year-old female patient was admitted to the surgical ward of PYNEH on January 7. A pre-admission screening of COVID-19 test on January 6 and an admission screening on January 7 morning were arranged for the patient. Both results were negative. The patient presented with persistent respiratory symptoms and low grade fever. She was later arranged to undergo a respiratory virus and COVID-19 combined test. The result of COVID-19 was shown indeterminate in the early morning on January 8 and confirmed positive by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in the evening on the same day. The patient is now being transferred to the isolation ward for further treatment with stable condition.
      
     Upon learning the patient’s test result, the Infection Control Team of PYNEH conducted contact tracing for the patients and hospital staff who had been in contact with the patient. Six patients who had stayed in the same cubicle in the surgical ward with the patient concerned were identified as close contacts. Among them, five of the patients have been transferred to the hospital's isolation ward. COVID-19 tests have been arranged for these patients and the results were negative. The other one patient has already been discharged. In view of the clinical needs, the patient will be admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital for quarantine. Another 44 patients who have stayed in the same ward and one patient who has stayed in the recovery room after surgery are classified as other contacts. COVID-19 tests and medical surveillance will be arranged for them.
       
     During the patient’s hospital stay, a scan in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and a surgery under general anesthesia with aerosol generating procedure were performed. Hospital staff had been wearing appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines while providing treatment and care to the patient. No staff member has been identified as a close contact. As a precautionary measure, the hospital will arrange COVID-19 tests and medical surveillance for all staff members concerned.
      
     The hospital has stopped admitting patients to the ward concerned and thorough disinfection has been arranged. PYNEH will continue to closely monitor the health of our staff and patients, as well as communicating with the CHP about the latest situation.

Ends/Saturday, January 9, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:04

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