There were 4,547 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in Hong Kong yesterday, including 226 imported cases. The Centre for Health Protection believes that the increase has not peaked. In order to mobilize more hospital beds to receive confirmed patients, the HA has so far referred nearly 50 patients or non-COVID-19 patients to a private hospital. There are once more patients who contracted the virus but did not seek medical attention before their death. The HA once once more urges patients to get tested and seek medical attention as soon as possible if they feel unwell.
The number of confirmed cases in a single day continued to maintain a level of more than 4,000. Leung Pak-hsien, the former CEO of the Hospital Authority, estimated on social networking sites the day before yesterday that the epidemic has reached its peak and will not increase significantly before November. Zhang Zhujun, director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection, responded yesterday. Refers to whether the peak of the epidemic “will be seen following a round”, and believes that the current increase in cases has not peaked. With the recent increase in the number of confirmed cases, in order to free up more beds to receive patients, the HA will transfer some patients with stable conditions to rehabilitation and nursing hospitals, and transfer suitable patients to private hospitals as needed.
Lau Ka-hsien, chief administrative manager of the Hospital Authority, said that 13 private hospitals have immediately provided 364 beds to receive patients referred by public hospitals. Among them, only 24 beds provided by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Hospital are available for new crown patients. He said the hospital had arranged for nearly 50 patients to be transferred to private hospitals, mostly non-coronavirus patients, including those who had completed surgery following stroke or cardiac arrest. At present, the utilization rate of first-line isolation beds in public hospitals is regarding 36%. Liu Jiaxian pointed out that the isolation ward is still capable of receiving patients, but the hospital should also be prepared to accept more confirmed and emergency patients.
Four more octogenarians die
Four more patients died yesterday, aged between 84 and 89. Two of the deceased from institutions were chronically ill. An 89-year-old woman who lived with her son and maid with a variety of long-term illnesses did not get tested or seek medical attention following having a fever and difficulty eating at home. She was found unconscious at home by her family the day before yesterday and died following being sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. Liu Jiaxian appealed once more yesterday that any patients who are not suitable for testing and seeking medical treatment as soon as possible, and those who are inconvenient to go out to seek medical treatment can also call the HA hotline or make an appointment for remote video consultation.
In terms of schools, 330 schools reported 437 cases of teachers and students yesterday, and 7 more schools had classes to suspend classes for a week. Among them, Yau Tong St. Andong Primary School and Sai Wan Ho Ming Wo Kindergarten continued to suspend classes earlier, and each had another class. There were 3 confirmed cases in the first class. Zhang Zhujun pointed out that there was no connection between the two cases in the same school. 6 more residential care homes for the elderly or the disabled have cases involving 5 residents and 3 staff members who have tested positive. A total of 57 residents have to be quarantined. Among them, 3 residents of Luen Wo Hui Yang Kwong Nursing Home were infected with the virus in a single day, and an employee of the Chi Lin Nursing Home in Diamond Hill was diagnosed with the virus.
He Qiming and Yu Weiwen test positive
The Deputy Secretary of the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Ho Kai-ming, and the President of the Monetary Authority, Yu Wai-man, tested positive for the rapid test and are now in quarantine according to the guidelines. The Labour and Welfare Bureau pointed out that Ho Kai-ming went to work for the last time the day before yesterday, and he checked the information that day with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Chan Kwok-kee, and listened to the opinions of several DAB Legislative Council members on the “Intergenerational Poverty Solution”.
86 people who inspected the two strong inspection buildings were not tested
In addition, the government raided two residential buildings that had been included in the mandatory inspection notice earlier yesterday. Among them, the Water Supplies Department inspected the inspection reports of regarding 255 people at Block 3, King Sun Terrace, Tuen Mun, and found that a woman violated the mandatory inspection notice. About 430 people were inspected at Block 2, Grand Promenade Bay, Sai Wan Ho, and 85 people were found to have violated the notice. The government has issued mandatory testing orders to 86 people and fined seven of them $10,000.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/nearly 50 public hospital patients referred to private hospitals-diagnosed around 4,000-health department-no peak/331936