The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (January 22) regarding two patient care assistants (PCA) who tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19:
A 47-year-old PCA of PMH had the onset of mild throat discomfort on January 20. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital yesterday night (January 21) due to sore throat. Her COVID-19 test result was preliminarily positive. The PCA is being treated in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre with stable condition.
The PCA concerned lives in Ying Kwai House in Kwai Chung Estate and works at the Antenatal Ward under the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of PMH. She is responsible for assisting nurses in healthcare procedures. She does not perform any high-risk clinical procedures and is equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work.
On the night of January 20, the PCA concerned had a brief chat in a pantry with another 58-year-old PCA who works at the same ward. During the chat, the first PCA did not wear a mask while the other PCA wore the mask all along. The 58-year-old PCA later tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 and is being isolated at the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre located at PMH with stable condition.
The hospital's infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Eleven staff members are classified as close contacts at this moment and required to quarantine. Twenty inpatients in the ward concerned tested negative for COVID-19. No patients are classified as close contacts.
Admission to the ward concerned and discharge have been suspended. Thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged. PMH will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
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