The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (August 1), 107 COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 1291, 1314, 1347, 1428, 1432, 1443, 1469, 1497, 1556, 1560, 1565, 1598, 1626, 1647, 1659, 1689, 1691, 1694, 1706, 1709, 1716, 1737, 1740, 1741, 1743, 1752, 1757, 1760, 1763, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1782, 1793, 1814, 1828, 1844, 1849, 1864, 1874, 1883, 1902, 1903, 1930, 1934, 1935, 1944, 1948, 1958, 1963, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1988, 2000, 2003, 2011, 2036, 2047, 2060, 2066, 2084, 2132, 2149, 2155, 2173, 2176, 2189, 2194, 2212, 2224, 2227, 2266, 2280, 2285, 2286, 2320, 2328, 2359, 2395, 2407, 2419, 2436, 2441, 2445, 2451, 2490, 2491, 2507, 2511, 2523, 2528, 2619, 2622, 2631, 2658, 2659, 2711, 2736, 2771, 2783, 2784, 2809, 2856, 2877 and 3013) were discharged from hospital.  So far a total of 1 858 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 656 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 236 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 1 179 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 17 public hospitals and a community isolation facility, among which 34 patients are in critical condition (case numbers: 595, 1346, 1401, 1424, 1470, 1491, 1612, 1650, 1679, 1718, 1767, 1777, 1779, 1806, 1835, 1940, 1955, 1989, 2048, 2075, 2086, 2115, 2133, 2161, 2172, 2269, 2282, 2408, 2479, 2484, 2703, 2942, 3153 and 3170), 44 are in serious condition (case numbers: 1315, 1498, 1573, 1795, 1805, 1843, 1952, 1956, 1968, 1998, 2033, 2038, 2078, 2079, 2143, 2148, 2246, 2288, 2315, 2316, 2334, 2358, 2362, 2396, 2412, 2422, 2452, 2458, 2522, 2560, 2576, 2591, 2595, 2650, 2746, 2769, 2789, 2792, 2894, 2901, 2940, 2941, 2951 and 3025) and the remaining 1 101 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.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) completed the preparation for the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and began admitting COVID-19 confirmed patients, aged 18 to 60 and with clinically suitable condition this afternoon (August 1). The facility will triage patients and allow public hospitals to focus on caring the more severe patients.
 
     The HA spokesman said, "Different departments and teams in the Head Office and clusters have joined hands in overcoming various challenges in the planning works for some weeks, including installations of medical equipment on site, infection control, work flow arrangements, etc. before the community treatment facility can eventually be commissioned smoothly."
 
     "The HA also thanked the Government, including the Food and Health Bureau and various Government departments, for their strong support, as well as AsiaWorld-Expo for availing the site and constructing the facilities, facilitating the rapid setup of the community treatment facility."
 
     The community treatment facility located in Hall 1 of AsiaWorld-Expo will have about 500 beds, mainly to admit relatively young patients with mild symptoms and able to live independently.
 
     "Upon patient arrival, healthcare staff of the community treatment facility will assess the patients' clinical condition and arrange patients to either stay in the facility for isolation treatment or to be transferred to hospitals for follow-up for the more severe patients."
 
     The HA hopes that the establishment of community treatment facilities can shorten the admission waiting time for newly confirmed patients. Together with the community isolation facility established earlier in Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, it is expected that more isolation wards in public hospitals can be availed for the care of the more severe patients.
 
     The HA will continue to explore the feasibility of setting up other facilities in the community in preparation for a long term battle against the epidemic.

    

     In view of the resumption of daytime dine-in services in catering business premises and the decrease in public demand for meal spaces in community halls and community centres, the Home Affairs Department will cease opening the 19 community halls or community centres in 18 districts for members of the public to take their own meal to have lunch from tomorrow (August 2).
     

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (August 1) announced that in view of a newly confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 found to be related to Hung Hom Market, to safeguard the health and safety of market stall tenants and the public, the FEHD has immediately cleaned and disinfected the areas the patient has used. The market will be closed an hour earlier today at 7pm for deep cleaning and disinfection.

     During the period, FEHD staff will thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the market, and call for co-operation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls, with a view to improving the overall hygiene condition of the market. In addition, the FEHD will carry out deep cleaning work at the periphery of the market and nearby streets. The cleaning and disinfection work is expected to last about four hours.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD attaches importance to the hygiene conditions of public markets. In addition to regular cleaning work in the daytime, market service contractors also conduct thorough cleaning in all markets after the markets are closed every day. During this epidemic period, the FEHD has already stepped up cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails, with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also provided in the markets for public use."

     "Besides, the FEHD has announced in late July to arrange the voluntary one-off free COVID-19 testing service for staff of market stalls and personnel working in markets progressively. In light of the recent confirmed COVID-19 cases involving Hung Hom Market, the FEHD has accorded priority to arranging testing service for the staff of stalls and personnel working in Hung Hom Market on July 31."

     The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the situation of each market, and will conduct deep cleaning and disinfection work in other markets if necessary so as to maintain environmental hygiene.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations,

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Tourism Commission announces that due to the issuing of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 by the Hong Kong Observatory, "A Symphony of Lights" will be cancelled tonight (August 1).