Hospital Authority announces clusters of nosocomial COVID-19 infections
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The spokesman for the Hospital Authority made the following announcement today (February 14) on clusters of nosocomial COVID-19 infections:
Following two nurses and a student nurse working in Ruttonjee Hospital testing positive for COVID-19 on February 7, 10 and 11, the hospital has conducted contact tracing. One patient care assistant who works in the same ward tested positive for COVID-19 today. So far no additional hospital staff members or patients have been identified as close contacts.
An 88-year-old female patient in a neurosurgery ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 yesterday (February 13). The hospital's infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing and arranged testing for all patients and staff members in the ward concerned. Seven patients who stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were classified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. A 97-year old female patient tested preliminarily positive today and is currently under isolation. An 87-year-old female patient's test showed an equivocal result and requires repeat testing. Both patients are in stable condition. All staff members were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment during work and none of them has been identified as a close contact. The ward has suspended admission of new cases since yesterday, while clinical services remain normal.
Regarding the cluster of cases in a medical and geriatrics ward announced by Shatin Hospital on February 11, a 32-year-old male nurse tested preliminarily positive today and is in stable condition.
Regarding Tuen Mun Hospital's announcement on the case of a 44-year-old obstetrics and gynaecology female patient testing positive for COVID-19 on February 11, among the 10 patients being classified as close contacts, apart from a 39-year-old female patient and a 45-year-old female patient testing preliminarily positive, a 29-year-old female patient also tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 today. The ward concerned has suspended admission since February 11.
A 101-year-old male patient who was admitted to a medical ward of Pok Oi Hospital on February 9 tested preliminarily positive on February 12. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. The hospital's infection control team has conducted contact tracing. A 75-year-old male patient in the same cubicle tested preliminarily positive today. Six patients who stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were classified as close contacts. One of them has passed away due to his underlying disease. The ward concerned has suspended admission since February 12.
On the other hand, a nurse working in the isolation ward of United Christian Hospital is classified as a close contact and will be quarantined as she did not have eye protection while providing nursing care for a preliminary positive case because the patient is in critical condition. The hospital has reminded staff members to wear appropriate personal protective equipment at work.
The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of patients and staff members and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
Ends/Monday, February 14, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:00
Issued at HKT 20:00
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