The Security Bureau noticed that someone disseminated fake news on social media today (August 5), misleading members of the public that the Secretary for Security had stated that the Government would arrest or punish diplomatic personnel from countries that interfere in Hong Kong affairs and their nationals in Hong Kong.

     A spokesman for the Security Bureau stated that this is fake news with intention to create issues. The spokesman strongly condemns the ill-willed act of disseminating this fake news.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) today (August 5) made the following announcement concerning a preliminary positive case of COVID-19 infection:

     A 69-year-old male patient with chronic disease was admitted to the surveillance ward of PYNEH in the afternoon of July 30 due to shortness of breath. He tested negative for COVID-19 on the day of admission, and was transferred to an Integrated Medical and Geriatric Ward on July 31 for further management. The patient's condition started to deteriorate yesterday (August 4). Nasopharyngeal swab specimen taken tested preliminary positive for COVID-19. The patient is now in critical condition.

     Inpatient record showed that before transferal to the Integrated Medical and Geriatric Ward, the 69-year-old patient had stayed in the same cubicle of the surveillance ward with another male patient for approximately eight hours. The other male patient was confirmed with COVID-19 infection on July 31 (case number: 3366) and had been transferred to an isolation ward on the same day. The connection between the two COVID-19 cases was under investigation.

     The hospital's infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing. Nine patients who had stayed in the same cubicle of the Integrated Medical and Geriatric Ward with the 69-year-old patient are classified as close contacts. The hospital will follow up closely with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on the required quarantine arrangement.

     All healthcare workers who provided treatment and care to the patient were equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with the infection control guidelines of the Hospital Authority. As a precautionary measure, the hospital will arrange viral tests and medical surveillance for staff members concerned.

     The hospital had arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection in the concerned geriatric ward. New admission to the ward has been suspended. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health of other patients and maintain communication with the CHP about the latest situation.

     A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (August 5) that samples from a pet cat and a pet dog sent to the AFCD have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
 
     The cases involve a Scottish short-haired cat and a Yorkshire Terrier dog that lived in Tsuen Wan and Sham Shui Po respectively. When the owners were found to be close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, the cat and the dog were sent for quarantine at the AFCD on July 31. Samples collected from the cat and the dog by the department tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. However, neither of the animals has shown any symptoms at present. The AFCD will continue to closely monitor them and conduct repeated testing.
 
     The spokesman reminded pet owners to adopt good hygiene practices (including hand washing before and after being around or handling animals, their food or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment. People who are sick should restrict contact with animals. If any changes in the health condition of pets are spotted, advice from a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible.
 
     The spokesman emphasised that currently there is no evidence that pets are playing a role in the spread of human infection with the COVID-19 virus. Pet owners should always maintain good hygiene practices and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (August 5), 174 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital. So far a total of 2 314 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
      
     At present, there are 668 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 222 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 1 234 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 19 public hospitals and a community isolation facility, among which 44 patients are in critical condition, 53 are in serious condition and the remaining 1 137 patients are in stable condition.
      
     The Hospital Authority 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:
 

     A man and a woman were charged with contravening the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (August 5). The man was fined $2,000 and the woman was bound over for 12 months with a surety of $3,000.
           
     The courts heard that in September and October last year, officers of the Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA), the Home Affairs Department, inspected two suspected unlicensed guesthouses on Argyle Street in Mong Kok and on Wing Hong Street in Cheung Sha Wan. During the inspections, the OLA officers posed as lodgers and successfully rented rooms in these guesthouses on a daily basis.
           
     According to the OLA's records, the guesthouses did not possess licences under the Ordinance on the days of inspections. The man and the woman responsible for managing the premises were charged with contravening section 5(1) of the Ordinance.
           
     A department spokesman stressed that operating or managing an unlicensed guesthouse is a criminal offence and can lead to a criminal record. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years' imprisonment.
                
     The spokesman appealed to anyone with information about suspected unlicensed guesthouses to report it to the OLA through the hotline (Tel: 2881 7498), by email (hadlaenq@had.gov.hk), by fax (2504 5805) using the report form downloaded from the OLA website (www.hadla.gov.hk), or through the mobile application "Hong Kong Licensed Hotels and Guesthouses".