The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority spokesperson today (January 27) announced that one confirmed patient with COVID-19 infection and one preliminarily confirmed patient passed away at public hospitals.
 
     A 67-year-old male COVID-19 confirmed patient (case number: 7123) passed away at United Christian Hospital (UCH) today. The patient, with chronic illness, was admitted to UCH on the night of December 7, 2020, due to fever and upper abdomen pain. He subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. His condition continued to deteriorate and he eventually succumbed at 8.26am today.
 
     In addition, a 56-year-old female patient with chronic illness was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) by ambulance yesterday morning (January 26) due to shortness of breath. The patient suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. Upon cardiopulmonary resuscitation with intubation immediately on arrival at KWH, her heart rate picked up and she was admitted to the isolation ward for treatment. She underwent a COVID-19 test and the preliminary test result was positive yesterday afternoon. The patient's condition continued to deteriorate and she eventually succumbed at 4.22pm. The hospital's infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing. All staff members who had been in contact with the patient were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment. No staff members were classified as close contacts.
 
     The hospitals are saddened by the passing away of the patients and will offer the necessary assistance to their families.
 
     Including the above patients, 169 confirmed and one preliminarily confirmed COVID-19 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.
 

Ends/Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:49

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