In response to media enquiries on suspected miscarriage reports following immunisation with a COVID-19 vaccine, a spokesperson for the Department of Health (DH) responded today (April 14) as follows:
 
     On April 12, the DH received a report of a suspected adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) with a COVID-19 vaccine from the Hospital Authority (HA). The case involved a 32-year-old woman. According to the HA, the woman could not give a clear account of her pregnancy information. She tested pregnant on April 10 and experienced vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain and expelled her foetus the next day (April 11). She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital for medical advice and her foetus was certified dead on the same day. According to the HA's assessment of the gestational age of the foetus by weight, the foetus was estimated to be around 23 to 24 weeks old. According to information, the woman received a dose of the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine at the St Paul's Hospital Community Vaccination Centre on April 8. There was no record that the woman complained of feeling unwell during observation at the Vaccination Centre.
 
     In addition, the DH received another report of a suspected adverse event from the HA on April 8 that involved another 32-year-old woman. She tested pregnant on March 25 and sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 31 due to vaginal bleeding. After assessment, she was found to have had a miscarriage. According to information, the woman received a dose of the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine at the Choi Hung Road Badminton Centre Community Vaccination Centre on March 23. There was no record that the woman complained of feeling unwell during observation at the Vaccination Centre.
 
     The DH has already contacted the HA for more information to assist in the assessment of the two cases. Currently, there is no evidence indicating that the two cases were related to vaccination.
 
     According to the established mechanism, the DH will refer the cases 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 AEFI is any medical occurrence that follows immunisation and that does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine.
 
     The Vaccination Fact Sheet of Comirnaty states that COVID-19 vaccines are not routinely recommended during pregnancy, unless the woman is considered to be at very high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and subject to very high risk of COVID-19 complications. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, think they may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby should ask their doctor for advice before receiving the Comirnaty vaccine. Currently, the Vaccination Fact Sheet of CoronaVac states that the CoronaVac vaccine should not be given to pregnant women.
 
     According to the risk communication plan endorsed by the Expert Committee, the figures and summaries of clinical events received will be released and updated regularly through the designated website. When a case of a suspected adverse event fulfilling the reporting criteria of an AEFI involving death within 14 days of vaccination is received, it will be announced via a press release as soon as possible.

     According to the statistics collected by the DH, episode for inpatient discharges and deaths in hospitals for spontaneous abortion in 2017 to 2019 was about 3 500 to 3 900 each year in Hong Kong.

     A 36-year-old woman was fined $3,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (April 14) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation).

     The woman was earlier issued a compulsory quarantine order stating that she must conduct quarantine at home for 14 days.  Before the expiry of the quarantine order, she left the place of quarantine on March 14, 2020, without reasonable excuse nor permission given by an authorised officer and was stopped by an immigration officer at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. She was charged with contravening sections 8(1) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was fined $3,000 by the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today.

     Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 124 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Nanyang Commercial Bank, Limited relating to suspicious websites and phishing instant messages, which has been reported to the HKMA.  A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by WeLab Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent mobile application (App), which has been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the App concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (April 14), 10 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 11 237 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
 
     At present, there are 658 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 214 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 132 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 19 public hospitals and the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, among which six patients are in critical condition, two are in serious condition and the remaining 124 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.
 
     Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows: