Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau (center) and Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee (left) hold a discussion session with frontline healthcare staff members of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to learn about their difficulties during the service surge and listen to their opinions on Jan 3, 2023. Looking on is Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon Central Cluster of the Hospital Authority Eric Cheung (right). (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau visited healthcare frontliners on Tuesday amid a “winter service surge” as Hong Kong reported over 16,000 new COVID-19 infections.
Lo visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital and expressed his gratitude to frontline healthcare staff for their efforts and contributions. He also asked for understanding from patients for the long waiting time at public hospitals, according to a government statement.
"Public hospitals are currently facing a winter service surge. Coupled with the recent cold weather, the numbers of COVID-19 and respiratory tract infection cases such as influenza have remained high, leading to a marked increase in attendance in the A&E departments and admissions to public hospitals,” Lo was quoted as saying in the statement.
Hong Kong recorded 16,186 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a decrease from 20,230 on Monday, as 75 more patients passed away, health authorities said
"I hope that patients will understand the relatively long waiting time at the moment,” he added.
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Accompanied by Cluster Chief Executive of Kowloon Central Cluster of the Hospital Authority Eric Cheung, Lo and the Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee visited the Accident and Emergency Department, the retrofitted general ward for admitting COVID-19 patients and the isolation ward.
They also learned about the current service situation and deployment of manpower at the hospital from the management and frontline healthcare staff in response to the dual challenges posed by COVID-19 and the winter influenza.
“The HA has been implementing a series of contingency measures, including setting up temporary beds and making manpower arrangements, to strengthen patient services during the service surge,” Lo said.
“At the same time, the HA has strengthened services such as tele-consultation and medication delivery to relieve the pressure of public hospitals,” he added.
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Lo said those with milder conditions can seek medical attention at general outpatient clinics or from private doctors, so that public hospitals can concentrate their resources on patients with more serious conditions.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau (first left) and Under Secretary for Health Libby Lee (second left) visit Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Jan 3, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT))
“Persons who tested positive for COVID-19 may seek medical advice from private doctors if their symptoms are mild,” Lo said, noting that the Centre for Health Protection has stipulated in isolation orders that infected persons may leave their place of isolation for medical treatment by point-to-point transportation.
“The government has all along been providing free COVID-19 oral drugs to private doctors who can prescribe the drugs to suitable COVID-19 patients," he said.
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Lo also took the opportunity to talk with the frontline healthcare staff to learn about their difficulties during the service surge and listen to their opinions.
He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the staff for their commitment, devoted care for patients, and unfailingly high level of professionalism throughout the long holiday, thereby safeguarding the healthcare system of Hong Kong at all times.
The HA said that public hospitals were treating 5,375 COVID patients, including 594 new admissions. It added that 3,172 required isolation, 765 needed oxygen therapy, and 91 received ventilator support
Meanwhile, Hong Kong recorded 16,186 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a decrease from 20,230 on Monday, as 75 more patients passed away, health authorities said.
The new cases comprised 15,862 local infections and 324 imported cases, the CHP said in a statement. The city had 23,361 new cases on Sunday and 29,207 the day before.
The latest COVID fatalities pushed the city’s death toll during the current fifth wave to 11,805, the CHP said.
Thirteen elderly care homes reported COVID infections involving 21 residents and three staff members. Five care homes for people with disabilities had six residents and one staff member infected, the CHP added.
It said 156 schools logged COVID-19 infections involving 114 students and 152 staff members.
From Dec 25-31, 2022, around 50.24 percent of verified COVID cases were linked with the BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron sub-variant.
The CHP also said it will stop collecting stool specimens at designated specimen collection points of the DH starting Jan 4.
In a separate statement, the HA said that public hospitals treated 5,375 COVID patients, including 594 new admissions. It added that 3,172 required isolation, 765 needed oxygen therapy, while 91 received ventilator support.
The HA also said 262 COVID patients were in serious condition and 204 in critical condition, including 50 under intensive care.
The overall occupancy of medical beds in acute hospitals was around 120 percent, added the HA.