The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital today (July 20) made the following announcement concerning a preliminary positive case of the COVID-19 infection:
      
     A 54-year-old male patient was admitted to a surgical ward on July 13 due to suspected appendicitis. He presented with a low-grade fever upon admission but did not have any symptoms of respiratory infection. The patient underwent an emergency operation on the same day and subsequently stayed in the surgical ward.
      
     The hospital was informed by the patient's family yesterday (July 19) that two other family members, who went to a dinner gathering with the patient on July 11, were just confirmed with the COVID-19 infection. The patient was transferred to an isolation ward at once. An urgent laboratory test was arranged and his nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for COVID-19.
      
     The hospital's infection control team immediately conducted contact tracing. The patient displayed good compliance with wearing a mask during his hospital stay and no high-risk procedures had been performed on him in the ward. 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. No staff member has been classified as a close contact at the moment. They will be put under medical surveillance as advised by the Center for Health Protection (CHP).
      
     Patient admissions to the surgical ward concerned have been suspended. The hospital will follow up closely with the CHP on the required quarantine arrangement for the other 10 patients who had stayed in the same cubicle of the surgical ward with the infected patient.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (July 20), eight COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 1476, 1495, 1500, 1528, 1530, 1578, 1594 and 1755) were discharged from hospital in the past 24 hours. So far, a total of 1,302 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
      
     At present, there are 650 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1,207 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 562 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 14 hospitals, among which 23 patients are in critical condition (case numbers: 595, 1315, 1338, 1346, 1401, 1424, 1428, 1470, 1483, 1485, 1491, 1497, 1562, 1630, 1640, 1679, 1680, 1710, 1718, 1730, 1779, 1806 and 1835), 13 are in serious condition (case numbers: 1306, 1348, 1439, 1443, 1449, 1456, 1468, 1557, 1558, 1767, 1795, 1798 and 1843) and the remaining 526 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.
 

     The Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident in Kowloon Bay this afternoon (July 20) in which a man died.

     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 20) investigating a suspected ciguatoxin food poisoning case, and hence reminded the public to eat less coral reef fish to reduce the risk of poisoning.
 
     The affected 66-year-old man developed nausea and oral numbness about 1.5 hours after consuming fish for dinner at home last Friday (July 17). The patient did not seek medical treatment and is in a stable condition.
 
     Initial enquiries revealed that the fish consumed was bought from Sau Mau Ping Market in Kwun Tong last Friday.
 
     "We have informed the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the incident and investigations are ongoing," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     Ciguatera fish poisoning is not uncommon in tropical areas. It is mainly associated with the consumption of big coral reef fish which have accumulated the toxin in the body, particularly in internal organs, through eating small fish that consumed toxic algae in coral reef seas.
 
     A larger fish is therefore more likely to carry higher amounts of the toxin. However, it is not easy to tell from the appearance of the fish whether it contains the toxin.
 
     People affected may show symptoms of numbness of the mouth and limbs, vomiting, diarrhoea, alternating sensations of coldness and hotness, and pain in the joints and muscles.
 
     "Most people affected by ciguatoxin will recover without long-term health effects, but if excessive toxins are consumed, the circulatory and nervous systems can be affected. The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking," the spokesman said.
 
     To prevent ciguatera fish poisoning, the public should:
 

• Eat less coral reef fish;
• Eat small amounts of coral reef fish at any meal and avoid having a whole fish feast in which all dishes come from the same big coral reef fish;
• Avoid eating the head, skin, intestines and roe of coral reef fish, which usually have a higher concentration of toxins;
• When eating coral reef fish, avoid consuming alcohol, peanuts or beans as they may aggravate ciguatoxin poisoning;
• Seek medical treatment immediately should symptoms of ciguatoxin fish poisoning appear; and
• Coral reef fish should be purchased from reputable and licensed seafood shops. Do not buy the fish when the source is doubtful.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Yan Chai Hospital (YCH) gave the following update today (July 20):
      
     According to contact tracing, six more male patients (aged 64 to 89) who had stayed in other medical wards were confirmed as carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. Among the six patients, one 77-year-old patient had passed away on July 17 due to underlying illnesses, one patient was discharged, and two others are old-age home residents and had been discharged. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and the Community Nursing Service were informed on the cases concerned for necessary follow-up. The other two patients are now being treated under isolation with stable condition. In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, YCH has commenced contact tracing for patients who might have had close contact with these patients. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
      
1.  Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2.  Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures; and
3.  Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the CHP for necessary follow-up.