The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (March 28) that, to help public hospitals and Community Treatment Facility prioritise their manpower to handle those patients with more acute clinical needs, new arrangement will be implemented starting from tomorrow (March 29) to allow holding centres in different districts to admit more residents from residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) who are contracted with COVID-19 but showing mild symptoms.
Starting from tomorrow, when residents are tested positive for COVID-19, RCHEs can reach the SWD and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health direct for follow-up arrangements. Upon assessments, the relevant departments will send the residents showing mild symptoms or asymptomatic cases to various holding centres. Meanwhile, upon the Hospital Authority’s (HA) referrals, the holding centres will continue to receive recovering elderly who are assessed by the HA as suitable for admission.
The relevant arrangement will apply to all holding centres operated by the SWD, including the holding centre which has come into operation today at Tsuen Wan West Sports Centre; the Kai Tak Holding Centre; the holding centres at Choi Wing Road Sports Centre, Shek Kip Mei Park Sports Centre, Harbour Road Sports Centre and Tin Shui Wai Sports Centre; and the holding centre at Halls 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the Asia World Expo, which was formerly known as the Temporary Quarantine Centre or the Community Isolation Facility.
　 In addition, the holding centre at Tsuen Wan West Sports Centre which is equipped with 150 beds has commenced operation today. It provides basic meals and nursing support without charge. Yan Chai Hospital Social Services Department has formed a care team to provide temporary care services at the centre, while the team of Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan will provide medical support. The SWD expresses heartfelt gratitude to them for forming teams at short notice to provide services for the centre.
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