Tag Archives: China

     The Government has all along been providing convenient testing services to members of the public through various channels, including a free testing service, and encouraging them to make good use of various means such as community testing centres (CTCs) and mobile specimen collection stations located in various districts for testing, with a view to achieving “early identification, early isolation and early treatment”, and cutting transmission chains in the community as early as possible.
 
     Apart from continuing to provide service for persons subject to compulsory testing, the Government will maintain free testing service at CTCs/mobile specimen collection stations for persons undergoing voluntary testing to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community.
 
     CTCs provide booking and walk-in services. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public’s planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (March 13), there was around 89 per cent availability for booking places for the coming 14 days. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.

     Starting tomorrow (March 14), the Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection station at Che Kung Temple Sports Centre. 

     Separately, ticketing machines have been installed in a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Members of the public who have obtained a ticket can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status.
 
     To enable the working population to undergo testing on their rest days or before/after work, the CTCs are open daily from 8am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm, even on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
       
     The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 0.00am today (March 13), a total of 10 601 patients who tested positive or preliminarily positive for COVID-19 are currently being treated in the North … read more

    â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 13) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, March 13, the CHP was investigating 13 335 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus by nucleic acid tests (4 444 confirmed cases, 3 359 asymptomatic cases and 5 532 cases with pending case status) in the past 24 hours. Separately, 19 095 additional positive cases through rapid antigen tests (RAT) (13 973 symptomatic cases and 5 122 asymptomatic cases) were reported. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 623 635 and 83 242 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RAT respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The aforementioned newly reported cases consist of three imported cases and 13 332 locally acquired cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests, as well as 19 095 locally acquired cases tested positive by RAT. The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations on the cases. A list of buildings related to the cases is available at the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     In addition, as of 0.00am, March 13, a total of 3 780 deaths related to COVID-19 during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) was recorded, with 3 771 and nine deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 3 993 deaths related to COVID-19.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (March 12), the total number of confirmed cases was 254 982, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases, pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 123 033, 10 and 232 275 respectively.

     Also, as a passenger flight (TG600) operated by Thai Airways arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, on March 9 had one passenger who tested positive upon arrival, and two passengers who failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H), the DH thus invoked Cap. 599H to prohibit the landing of passenger flights from Bangkok operated by Thai Airways in Hong Kong from March 13 to 26.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection became severe recently and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility. With the higher transmissibility and risk of infection of the Omicron mutant strain, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with the social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings (particularly religious or cross-family activities and gatherings). This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹The spokesman reminded that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who are yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected. Meanwhile, a person who gets COVID-19 and influenza at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. Influenza vaccination may reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation and the length of stay. In addition, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The Hospital Authority today (March 13) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
       
     The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 13) that Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) has been converted to a designated hospital for COVID-19 patients and the process went smoothly. Most of the non-COVID-19 patients staying in the wards located at main blocks have been discharged, or transferred to public or private hospitals according to their clinical conditions, so as to vacate the beds for admitting serious COVID-19 patients. Individual patients who are unfit for transfer would stay in QEH for treatment. 
      
     To complement the operation of designated hospital, the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) of QEH will only admit serious COVID-19 patients, life threatening and pregnant lady ambulance cases. QEH strongly appeals to COVID-19 patients without or with mild symptoms to avoid attending its A&E. These patients will not be arranged for admission to the hospital.  COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms, who have medical need are advised to make appointment for consultation at designated clinics. The hospital will reserve a certain number of beds as a buffer to receive non-COVID-19 emergency cases.
      
     “The conversion of QEH to designated hospital for COVID-19 patients will provide around 1 300 beds for severe COVID-19 patients. The measure can help concentrate manpower and resources to manage patients upon the severe epidemic situation. Counting on the Central Authorities’ strong support for Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Government and HA will continue to adhere to the epidemic control strategy of ‘reducing death, reducing severe cases and reducing transmission’, and to strengthen the capability in treatment in public hospitals,” the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan said.
      
     The Cluster Chief Executive of KCC, Dr Eric Cheung, said, “Converting QEH to a COVID-19 designated hospital within a few days is an unprecedented challenge and the task can only be achieved by seamless inter-departmental cooperation. Meanwhile, I would like to express my gratitude to the support rendered by other clusters and hospitals for sharing ambulance cases and admitting non-COVID-19 patients amid the severe epidemic situation. This achievement is the realisation of the HA united spirit.”
        
     The HA expressed the deepest gratitude to all sectors of community for the support on the success of conversion, including the Fire Services Department, Auxiliary Medical Service and St John Ambulance for coordinating the transportation of patients and the “Police Medic Special Duty Team” of the Hong Kong Police Force in assisting the non-emergency ambulance service in various hospitals. The staunch support and participation from different sectors of the community contributed to the work of conversion of the designated hospital.
      
     The HA expressed apology to the patients affected, appealed to patients and members of the public for understanding, and thanked for their co-operation. The HA will closely monitor the demand of healthcare services in the community and the operation of QEH to provide appropriate medical support to the residents in Kowloon Central. read more