The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (August 12), 132 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. The Hospital Authority (HA) verified the patient discharge statistics again today and adjusted the total discharge number to 3 189 patients with confirmed or probable infection. The patient (case number: 3406) included in the discharge list earlier is still in hospital.

     At present, there are 683 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 245 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 903 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 19 public hospitals, a community isolation facility and a community treatment facility, among which 30 patients are in critical condition, 55 are in serious condition and the remaining 818 patients are in stable condition.

     The HA 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. 

     Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows:
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     United Christian Hospital (UCH) made an announcement today (August 12) regarding a nurse tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
      
     A male nurse of a psychiatric ward at UCH has onset of cough and sputum since August 9, and presented with low grade fever during his duty on August 10 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department. COVID-19 deep throat saliva test was arranged and the test result was preliminarily positive yesterday (August 11). The nurse is currently receiving isolation treatment in the hospital with stable condition. 
      
     The nurse concerned performed routine clinical duties in the ward and was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment during his work. He did not have any contact with COVID-19 confirmed patients nor perform high-risk medical procedures in the past 28 days. As a precautionary measure, admission and discharge of patients in the ward concerned have been suspended. There are a total of 20 patients in the ward and all of their COVID-19 tests are negative. The hospital is conducting tests for other colleagues who have worked in the ward and the test results received so far are all negative. Environment samples taken from the ward are all negative as well.
      
     The hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing and five colleagues who had meals together with the nurse are being classified as close contacts and need to be quarantined for 14 days. The hospital will follow up with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). So far, no patients are classified as close contacts and the hospital will arrange 28-day medical surveillance for patients and staff in the ward.
      
     The hospital has arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection for the ward concerned, staff canteen and changing room. UCH will continue to closely monitor the health of our staff and patients and communicate with the CHP about the latest situation.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has announced that as of 0.00am, August 12, the CHP was investigating 62 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 4 244 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 4 243 confirmed cases and one probable case).
    
     Among the newly reported cases announced, one had a travel history during the incubation period.
 
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
 
     The CHP has been closely monitoring the usage and demand of various quarantine centres (QCs). The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Infection Control under the CHP earlier made a recommendation that confinees at QCs would be quarantined for the first 10 days and be put under home quarantine for the remaining four days when necessary. As the number of confirmed cases and close contacts remains at a high level recently, it is anticipated that the usage of quarantine facilities will continue increasing. Starting from today, the CHP will reactivate this quarantine arrangement in various QCs by phases, to ensure that there are adequate quarantine facilities to cope with the epidemic situation.
 
     The CHP stressed that all confinees under quarantine at QCs are asymptomatic. After the implementation of the above arrangement, only if confinees have passed assessments on their health conditions and other relevant factors such as their home environments by healthcare professionals, will they be considered appropriate to be put under home quarantine for the remaining four days. The confinees will have tested negative for COVID-19 before discharge from QCs before such an arrangement could be made. QC staff members will also arrange monitoring wristbands for these confinees to ensure they comply with the home quarantine requirement before they are discharged from QCs.
 
     In view of the severe epidemic situation, the CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. As a number of recent cases involve elderly people, the CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
 
     "The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
 
     "As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps) and cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use. After using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infections and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infections, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
     • Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
     • Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
     • Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) to ensure environmental hygiene;
     • Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
     • After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
     • Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
     • Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
     • When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Prince of Wales Hospital made the following announcement today (August 12) concerning a malfunction incident of the negative pressure system in its isolation facilities yesterday (August 11):
 
     At around 2.45pm yesterday, the utility power company supply network experienced a voltage dip, which caused an interruption to the mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning (MVAC) system at the Main Clinical Block and Trauma Centre (MCBTC) and the Day Treatment Block and Children Wards (DTB) of the Hospital, leading to a loss of pressurisation in some isolation rooms inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the 11L Paediatric Isolation Ward, the Burns Centre and the 9A Orthopaedic Ward. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department immediately checked and restarted the MVAC system. The pressure gradients of the isolation rooms concerned in the MCBTC and the DTB returned to normal at around 3.15pm and 3.45pm respectively.
 
     Four confirmed COVID-19 patients were staying in the isolation rooms of the ICU during the period. All staff members in the ward had put on N95 respirators. The doors of the isolation rooms were kept closed and no aerosol generating procedures were conducted during the period. Another four confirmed COVID-19 patients staying in the 11L Paediatric Isolation Ward were transferred to the 11M Paediatric Isolation Ward. All staff members in the wards were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. The infection risk is assessed to be low.
 
     The incident has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System.
 

     Police today (August 12) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Hung Hom.

     Chan Hon-chung, aged 71, went missing after he left an elderly home on Ma Tau Wai Road yesterday (August 11). Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.6 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short greyish-white hair. He was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeved shirt, grey trousers and blue slippers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.