The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (February 23) that it will activate two more designated clinics tomorrow (February 24) to cope with the rapid and huge increase in the number of confirmed patients, which has overwhelmed the capacity of isolation facilities of public hospitals, and community treatment and isolation facilities.

     "The HA had activated seven designated clinics earlier for confirmed cases of COVID-19 to help provide diagnoses and treatment for people who have been notified of their positive results, and are presenting with relatively mild symptoms of infection (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat) requiring medical advice while awaiting admission to hospitals or isolation facilities. As at 5pm on February 22, the seven designated clinics have provided doctors' consultations to over 6 300 patients. The newly activated clinics are Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic and Cheung Sha Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic," said an HA spokesman.

     In order to implement appropriate infection control arrangements, those seeking consultations must make appointments by telephone to avoid people queuing at the clinics. The healthcare staff of the designated clinics will provide appropriate treatment according to the patient's clinical condition, and will transfer the patient to a hospital for further treatment if required.

     The designated clinics are open from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 9am to 1pm, and 2pm to 5pm. Eligible patients should call the selected designated clinic to make an appointment, and will be provided the earliest appointment timeslot in the next 24 hours.

     Normal general out-patient services at the designated clinics will be suspended for the time being. Episodic patients who, having made an appointment at the abovementioned clinics via telephone booking or the mobile application "HA Go", are advised to seek consultation at other general out-patient clinics or at private clinics. Chronic patients with follow-up appointments at the clinics are advised to refill their drugs at medication refill clinics (see Annex) on the appointment day by presenting their appointment slips and identity cards.

     COVID-19 vaccination services will also be suspended. The Government will send text messages to citizens who have made appointments for COVID-19 vaccination at the two newly activiated designated clinics and advise them to go to other community vaccination centres for vaccination service.

     The HA will closely monitor the service needs and operation of the designated clinics to dovetail with the latest development of the epidemic. The HA once again thanks the public for their patience and for being accommodating in complying with the arrangements so that the isolation facilities in public hospitals can accord priority to the elderly, young and patients with special medical needs. With the gradual increase in community treatment and isolation facilities, the remaining confirmed patients will be admitted in an orderly manner.

Ends/Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:02

NNNN