The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Taking into consideration of the recent epidemic developments and the needs of patients and their families, the Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (September 28) that 26 public hospitals will adjust the visiting arrangements in non-acute wards and units starting from September 30 (Friday) (details shown in the Appendix). 
 
     The HA spokesperson said, "We understand the wish of patients and their relatives for more flexible visiting arrangements in public hospitals. Having considered the overall epidemic situation and wards operations, the HA has adopted a risk-based strategy and adjusted the visiting arrangements in public hospitals in phases to make it easier for the public to visit patients."
 
     Under the new arrangement, for patients at lower risks of infection, including patients aged under 60, or patients aged 60 or above who have completed at least two doses or above of COVID-19 vaccination or at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination with an infection history of COVID-19, a one-hour visit will be arranged for them once a day. Subject to the situation in the wards, up to two registered visitors can enter the ward to visit the patient at the same time. An exchange of visitors is allowed with a maximum of three registered visitors.
 
     For patients at higher risks of infection, such as immunocompromised patients, or patients aged 60 or above who have completed less than two doses of COVID-19 vaccination, two sessions of one-hour visits will be arranged each week. Subject to the situation in the wards, up to two registered visitors can enter the ward to visit the patient at the same time.
 
     Hospital staff will contact patients' family members on a case-by-case basis and explain the visit arrangement and schedule the visit. Family members are not required to call the hospital for appointments.
 
     All visitors must provide a nucleic acid test negative result obtained within 48 hours prior to the visit, and must meet the requirements of the Vaccine Pass, including having completed the required dosage of COVID-19 vaccination or being recovered persons of COVID-19 in the Government's record, and holding the relevant vaccination record or record of a recovered person. Visitors entering public hospitals are also required to observe the requirements of scanning the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code and to strictly comply with the infection control measures, such as wearing surgical masks and temperature checking.
 
     Visitors are required to fill in visiting required information and read the statement found in the HA webpage (vis.ha.org.hk) or the mobile app "HA Go" before the visit and show the QR code generated by the system to ward staff. 
 
     Public hospitals will also continue to facilitate compassionate visiting arrangements or video visiting as far as practicable and provide other feasible assistance to patients and their families. The HA will continue to monitor the latest development of the epidemic and to extend the new visiting arrangements to other wards and departments if the situation allows.

Ends/Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:15

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