Tag Archives: China

     The Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 4pm today (April 24), one death case, reported as suspected serious adverse event with history of COVID-19 vaccination within 14 days, had been received from the Hospital Authority (HA) in the past 24 hours. The report did not provide clinical evidence to support that the event was caused by the vaccine.

     According to the information provided by the HA, the case involved a 58-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and obesity. She was found collapsed at home on April 22 evening and was admitted to the United Christian Hospital for treatment. Investigation in the hospital revealed extensive subarachnoid haemorrhage with brain oedema. Her condition deteriorated and she passed away in the early morning of April 23. Provisional diagnosis was subarachnoid haemorrhage and cardiac arrest. According to information, she received the second dose of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccination at the Kowloon Bay Sports Centre Community Vaccination Centre 10 days (i.e. April 13) prior to her death. There was no record that the woman complained of feeling unwell during observation at the vaccination centre.

     The DH contacted the HA upon notification to obtain further information on the incident to facilitate causality assessment. So far, there is no clinical evidence to indicate that the event was caused by the vaccine. The HA has referred the case to the Coroner. Also, the DH will pass the case based on the established mechanism to the Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation (Expert Committee) for conducting causality assessment.

     According to the World Health Organization, an Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) is any medical occurrence that follows immunisation and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine.

     Up to and including April 18, 2021, there were about 1 091 100 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered. During the same period, the DH had received a total of 1 890 AEFI reports (0.17 per cent of all doses administered). According to the background information provided by HA, between March 22 and April 18, 2021, there were on average about 47 inpatient cases (including about 3.6 deaths) diagnosed with acute stroke per day. In addition, there were about 500 deaths recorded at the HA’s Accident & Emergency Department (A&ED) in the same period (on average about 18 deaths at A&ED per day). The state of inpatient cases diagnosed with acute stroke and death records at the A&ED are provided as a cross reference to enhance fuller public understanding of cases of the kind recorded on vaccine recipients.

     Separately, in response to media enquiries, the DH said that it also received a report of death case with history of COVID-19 vaccination more than 14 days from the HA. The case involved a 75-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes. He was found unconscious at home this morning (April 24) and was admitted to the A&ED of Tseung Kwan O Hospital. Resuscitation failed and he passed away in the same morning. According to information, he received the second dose of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccination 15 days (i.e. April 9) prior to his death. So far, there is no clinical evidence to indicate the event was caused by the vaccine. The DH will pass the case based on the established mechanism to the Expert Committee for conducting causality assessment.

     According to the risk communication plan endorsed by the Expert Committee, figures and summary of clinical events received will be released and updated through the designated website. When suspected adverse event fulfilling the reporting criteria of AEFIs involving death case within 14 days of vaccination is received, it will be announced via press release as soon as possible. read more

     Police are investigating a murder case in Tuen Mun last night (April 23) in which an 85-year-old man died.        At 9.10pm yesterday, Police received a report from a 32-year-old female staff tha… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 9am today (April 24), 15 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 340 patients with confirmed or… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, April 24, the CHP was investigating three additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 11 731 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 11 730 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
     Among the newly reported cases announced, one is a local case with unknown sources, while the other two cases are epidemiologically linked with a local case.
 
     The case with unknown sources involves a 38-year-old woman (case number: 11730) who was asymptomatic. She underwent testing at a Community Testing Centre on April 22 and tested positive. She is a foreign domestic helper.
 
     As the case with unknown sources involves N501Y mutant strain, the CHP carried out prudent measures on infection control to stop the potential risk of spread of N501Y mutant strain. Compulsory quarantine for asymptomatic residents was arranged last night for units on all floors of the building where the patient resided (Kennedy Terrace, 8 Kennedy Road in Mid-levels). So far, about 60 people were transferred to quarantine centres.
 
     Meanwhile, as the case had also stayed on the sixth floor of Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun, the CHP is also contacting people who stayed from April 4 to 7 on the same floor with the case in Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun and issue quarantine orders to them to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days; and issued a compulsory testing notice to require people who have stayed in that hotel (including lodgers, full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors) from March 27 to April 23 to undergo testing by April 25.
 
     A total of 164 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days (April 10 to 23), including 36 local cases (including 1 possibly local) of which 16 are from unknown sources.
 
     The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
 
     Meanwhile, the CHP reminded those who had visited specified venues under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to receive COVID-19 nucleic acid testing according to the compulsory testing notice. The Regulation also requires all household members of close contacts of confirmed cases to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test within a specified period according to compulsory testing notices published in the Gazette. The public are also urged to seek medical attention early if symptoms develop and undergo testing as soon as possible.
 
     The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).
 
     The CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. The CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
 
     The spokesman said, “Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
 
     “The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
 
     “As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps). After using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs.”
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the “StayHomeSafe” mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infections, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
 
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly. read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 24) that due to big w… read more