The SUN HK : Visiting arrangements in public hospitals relaxed

27 February 2023

Visitors will be allowed longer hours.

People visiting relatives or friends in public hospitals will no longer be required to perform nucleic acid tests starting March 1; instead, they will be allowed in if they show a negative result on the rapid antigen test (RAT).

Hospital visitors will also be given more visiting hours.

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These were among the measures adopted by the Hospital Authority as it relaxed measures against the spread of Covid-19, in keeping with the gradual resumption of normalcy in Hong Kong.

In a statement, the HA said, "Visitors are only required to perform a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours before the visit, and show a negative result. They are no longer required to provide any nucleic acid test negative result."

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The HA said visiting hours of public hospitals are currently limited to two hours per day.

“From March 1 onwards, public hospitals will adjust their visiting sessions and hours subject to ward operations,” it said. “Visiting hours of some hospital wards would be longer than two hours. Various visiting hours will also be arranged to allow family members to have more flexibility and more time to meet with patients.”

In addition, there is no restriction on the number of visitors.

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“Visitors can take turns to visit but only two visitors are allowed to enter the ward at the same time for each patient,” the HA said.

“The visiting arrangements previously relaxed will continue to be in place subject to the operation of wards, including no prior appointment required for visitors and allowing visitors to feed patients,” it added.

Still, the HA reminded patients and visitors to remain vigilant against the spread of disease.

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"Patients and visitors should continue to comply with prevailing infection control measures, including wearing surgical masks when patients are not drinking or eating, wearing surgical masks at all time for visitors and paying attention to hand hygiene, so as to minimize the risk of spreading virus," it said.

The HA also noted that while the new visiting arrangement will be implemented in all public hospitals, a small number of wards may eed to disallow visiting due to operation constraints.