The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (October 13), a total of 1 602 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 201 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 357 patients are in isolation wards, 134 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 404 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 143 in total are new patients. There are three newly reported critical patients and five newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 26 patients in critical condition and 24 are in serious condition, of which nine critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 213 patients who have recovered, including 171 patients who have been discharged. In addition, eight patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.
 
     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 75 525 patients who have recovered so far, including 75 195 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 87 905 patients who have recovered, including 87 575 patients who have been discharged.
 
     In addition, a 19-year-old patient in a male psychiatric ward of Kwai Chung Hospital developed fever symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 on October 7. The hospital commenced contact tracing investigation and found eight more patients (aged 21 to 65) who stayed in the same cubicle who tested positive. Two more patients, aged 66 and 29, who stayed in another cubicle were subsequently found to be infected with COVID-19 on October 9 and 11 respectively. The hospital is investigating the linkage of the cases concerned. All the infected patients are being treated under isolation and are in stable condition.
 
     The admission arrangement for the ward concerned has been suspended. Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been conducted in the areas concerned, while infection control measures have been enhanced, including all staff members of the ward concerned are required to wear surgical respirators at work. The hospital will closely monitor the patients' health conditions and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

Ends/Thursday, October 13, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:45

NNNN