Public hospitals enhance support to COVID-19 patients and daily update on COVID-19 cases
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The Hospital Authority (HA) is concerned about the recent development of the epidemic and the increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. Around 16 per cent of confirmed patients staying in public hospitals are from residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs). The HA has deployed additional beds and manpower in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and other public hospitals so as to provide appropriate treatment and care to patients requiring hospitalisation. In light of the emergence of cluster of COVID-19 cases infections in RCHEs recently, the HA has also enhanced its outreach medical services for RCHEs to support patients in need.
In response to the increasing number of confirmed cases in the community, the HA will strengthen the service capacity of seven HA Designated Clinics for COVID-19 Confirmed Cases (Designated Clinics) and tele-consultation service to provide medical support for confirmed patients in the community.
In order to focus manpower and resources to further enhance Designated Clinic and tele-consultation services, Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic, Tsing Yi Cheung Hong General Out-patient Clinic, North Kwai Chung General Out-patient Clinic, Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic and Tuen Mun Clinic will adjust services from tomorrow (November 19). Details of the service adjustment arrangements of the clinics concerned together with the service adjustment arrangements of other General Out-patient Clinics announced earlier are set out in Annex.
Chronic patients with follow-up appointments at the clinics concerned are advised to refill their drugs at the corresponding medication refill clinics on the appointment day by presenting their appointment slips and identity cards. The HA hopes the community will understand those arrangements.
As at 0.00am today (November 18), a total of 2 364 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 338 new patients. Currently, there are 217 patients requiring oxygen therapy and ten patients requiring ventilator support. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 600 patients are in isolation wards, 195 patients are in second-tier isolation wards and 576 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, of which 250 in total are new patients. There are eight newly reported critical patients and 11 newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 44 patients in critical condition and 52 are in serious condition, of which 11 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 272 patients who have recovered, including 210 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 83 659 patients who have recovered so far, including 83 257 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 96 039 patients who have recovered, including 95 637 patients who have been discharged.
An 86-year-old patient in a male medicine and geriatrics ward of Tai Po Hospital tested positive for COVID-19. Investigation found five more patients (aged 74 - 95) confirmed infection with COVID-19. Three of them are symptomatic and the other three are asymptomatic. A 49-year-old patient in a male geriatric ward of the Ruttonjee Hospital tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Investigation found five more patients confirmed infection with COVID-19. Five of them are symptomatic and one patient is asymptomatic. All patients are in stable condition except one patient at Tai Po Hospital is in critical condition. Admission and visiting arrangements for the wards concerned have been suspended. Thorough cleaning and disinfection have been conducted in the areas concerned, while infection control measures have been enhanced.
Ends/Friday, November 18, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:20
Issued at HKT 20:20
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