The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in a medical ward​, the spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital made the following update today (February 15):
 
     In accordance with prevailing guideline, the hospital has commenced contact tracing and identified two more male patients (aged 44 and 66) in the same ward to be the carriers of MDRA. The two patients are currently under isolation treatment with stable condition.
 
     Following the activation of Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, visiting arrangement for the ward has been suspended. The following infection control measures have already been implemented according to established guidelines:​
 

1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures.

 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of other patients in the ward.

     The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, and the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi, expressed their gratitude to 1823 colleagues for working tirelessly to handle public enquiries and complaints about government services with professionalism during their visit to 1823 Centre today (February 15).  

     Mr Sit said that public demands for 1823 services are on the increase in recent years, in particular epidemic-related enquiries. In 2020, 1823 received some 4.74 million calls and 500 000 emails and text messages from Tell me@1823 mobile app. He encouraged colleagues to continue to serve the public with dedication on the front line to foster communication between the Government and the public.

     In fighting the virus, 1823 supports anti-epidemic related hotlines including the COVID-19 hotline for the Department of Health, the CuMask+™ hotline, the Universal Community Testing Programme hotline and the Return2hk Scheme hotline. 1823 has also accorded priority in handling calls related to the pandemic and environmental hygiene while maintaining normal services as far as possible.

     1823 is managed by the Efficiency Office to provide round-the-clock one-stop service to answer enquiries for 23 participating departments and to receive complaints, suggestions and compliments on all government services.

    

     A man who went missing in Sau Mau Ping has been located.

     Lee Ching-ping, aged 82, went missing after he was last seen outside Tin Wan House, Shun Tin Estate on February 12 afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man returned to his residence in Shun Tin Estate in the small hours of yesterday (February 14).
     

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (February 15) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.