Community isolation facility alleviates demand pressure for hospital isolation beds (with photos)

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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Amid a new wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, the numbers of confirmed patients and symptomatic close contacts have increased rapidly every day. The occupancy rate of isolation beds in public hospitals is close to saturation. The growing number of elderly and critical patients with longer lengths of hospital stays has affected the turnover of isolation beds. Upon completion of preparation works the Hospital Authority (HA) can start admitting patients meeting specific clinical criteria and other conditions to the community isolation facility at Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village from tomorrow (July 24).

     The HA spokesperson said, "A community isolation facility is one of the important contingency measures to help alleviate the demand pressure of hospital isolation beds and leave room for public hospitals to focus on caring for patients with more severe ailments.

     "We have begun preparations for the community isolation facility at Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village since April this year to set up over 300 en-suite units. The detailed arrangements cover staff deployment, infection control, workflow, patient admission and discharge arrangements, emergency support from nearby hospitals, and a connection to the Clinical Management System.

     "Preparations for the community isolation facility have now been completed. The HA will arrange the transfer in an orderly manner of appropriate recovering patients with stable condition to the community isolation facility to continue the isolation treatment."

     The HA thanked the Government for availing the site and the strong support of the Food and Health Bureau and various government departments. The HA will continue to explore the feasibility of setting up other facilities in the community in preparation for a long term battle against the epidemic.

Ends/Thursday, July 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:40

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Photo

The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (second right), accompanied by the Hospital Authority Chairman, Mr Henry Fan (third right), and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko (first right), was briefed by the operation team on the operation of the community isolation facility yesterday (July 22).

The Hospital Authority Chairman, Mr Henry Fan (right), and the Hospital Authority Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko (left), observed the operation of the command centre of the community isolation facility yesterday (July 22).