Covid patients waiting outside hospitals moved indoors as cases ease slightly

 By The SUN

All patients outside hospitals are to be moved indoors as temperatures are set to plunge

Health officials said Covid-19 patients waiting for admission in cold weather outside hospitals were to be all moved indoors Friday, as temperatures are forecast to drop to as low as 11 degrees over the weekend.

The announcement came as a total of 3629 Covid-19 cases were confirmed Friday, down nearly half from the previous day’s tally of 6,116.

However there was a record 7,600 preliminary confirmed cases, suggesting the drastic drop was more the result of late reporting rather than an actual easing in the spread of the virus.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection confirmed this, saying 4800 tests were already at the Department of Health laboratory being tested and hopefully these will be confirmed by the day’s end.  

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She urged private testing contractors to submit positive samples as soon as possible so they can be confirmed.

She said that of the confirmed cases, 52 carried the Delta strain while 2,136 cases were likely to be Omicron. The result of tests on the remaining 106 samples were still pending.

Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority reported that 3,099 patients were being treated at three infectious disease centers and public hospitals while 2,200 others with mild or no symptoms are at Penny’s Bay Isolation Centre.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

For the past 24 hours, 10 more people have died. The details of the eight were announced in a press release the previous night, while the two others involved a 62-year-old man and a 96-year-old woman.

Ten other patients are in critical condition, but Dr Ho did not give particulars.

She said 251 patients had been discharged from hospitals, but they remained at full capacity because of the long waiting list for beds.

Pindutin para sa detalye

She also said that the Hospital Authority has started vacating some indoor spaces inside hospitals like out-patient clinics, staff rooms and conference rooms, so patients need not wait outside in the cold while waiting to be admitted.

Ambulances keep arriving with residents from elderly care homes (RTHK)

Dr Ho said all the patients will be moved indoors within the day.

“It will get colder, no one wants elderly people waiting in the cold outside the hospitals so we are doing extra work to get them in. We will leave no stone unturned to get this done,” said Dr Ho.

To make room for them, she said patients in stable condition are being moved out of hospitals to isolation facilities. However, as soon as beds are vacated, she said ambulances would come in, bringing residents from elderly care homes.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She appealed to staff managing care homes to accept patients who have recovered back in their facilities to free up much-needed hospital beds. She said the HA will send outreach teams to the care homes to support them in looking after residents.

An additional 30 care homes have reported infections among residents and/or staff, according to Dr Chuang, making a total of 150 struggling to cope with outbreaks from the fifth wave.

Dr Ho also appealed to the public not to send any more stuff to hospitals like warm clothes and masks as they have sufficient supplies. She thanked the kind-hearted donors but said the donations hamper the work of frontline staff.

CONTACT US!

·         She reiterated an invitation to private doctors to do parttime work for the HA, particularly in the accident and emergency stations.

Asked by a reporter about complaints that patients at Penny’s Bay are not being tested regularly, Dr Ho said they will contact the contractors and tell them to improve their service.

Another question concerning the number of foreign domestic helpers among the confirmed cases was answered by Dr Chuang. She confirmed that FDHs are among the confirmed cases, but said she did not have the exact figures.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Asked about reports that some FDHs are stuck outside hospitals with nowhere to go, Dr Chuang said they should remain where they are and wait for the CHP to contact them on when they can move to an isolation facility.

‘We will show no mercy,’ CE warns FDHs who violate gathering rules

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CE Lam also tells employers to ask their helpers not to go out on Sunday

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has issued the strongest warning yet to foreign domestic helpers not to violate anti-gathering restrictions, amid the most severe Covid-19 spread ever experienced in Hong Kong.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this evening, CE Lam vowed law enforcers will “show no mercy” when they enforce the tough new measures that had been put in place since the other Thursday, Feb 10.

“On Sunday (Feb 13) we saw a large number of foreign domestic helpers congregating. I would say that this Sunday when we take law enforcement action we will not show mercy anymore. If we see more than two people together we will mete out penalty tickets which will cost $10k out of pocket.”

The CE also took the unprecedented step of asking employers to make their domestic helpers stay at home on their day off.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“I would like to appeal to the public again to refrain from going out as much as possible,” she said. “And if you have hired foreign domestic helpers please do your best to ask your domestic helper to stay at home.”

But the Labour Department also admonished employers not to require FDHs to work on their rest day.

“An employer who compels his or her FDH to work on a rest day without the agreement of the FDH or fails to grant rest days to the FDH is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000,” it added.

The chief executive's warning came just hours after a group of migrant domestic workers held their own online press conference to decry being targeted by police and other law enforcers on their day off.

Last Sunday, a total of 17 FDHs were issued penalty tickets of $5,000 each for violating the gathering ban and for not wearing face masks, and issued verbal warnings to 13 others. Three were reportedly arrested for allegedly hawking food without a permit.

Police enforcers issued 17 penalty tickets costing $5k each to FDHs last Sunday

CE Lam also repeated a call for everyone to get vaccinated, saying the government is targeting a vaccination rate of 90% by the end of February. As of yesterday, she said the vaccination rate had reached 84.9%, so there is a chance that the target will be reached.

She also announced that the vaccination rate among the elderly has increased significantly. The rate for those aged 70-79 is now at 60%, and 40% for those aged 80 and above.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

She issued the calls after warning that the fifth wave of the epidemic has yet to peak. So far, she said that from Feb 1 to 16 alone, the city has recorded a total of 15,139 cases, which is nearly equal the number recorded in the past two years of the pandemic.

Separately, the CE confirmed the plan to conduct mandatory universal testing but did not give a specific time frame, saying the government is still working on the plan.

Pindutin para sa detalye

But she said it will involve more than a single test, like what was done in Macau. It could be two, or even three tests of each person, according to her.

The CE also dismissed talks of a citywide lockdown, saying it is not part of the plan.

But to be able to start universal testing, she said the government must first ensure there are enough isolation facilities for those additional cases that might be uncovered during the exercise.

CONTACT US!

She said that within the next eight to 10 days the government hopes to enhance its capability to provide more isolation places for patients who have mild or no symptoms. 

Apart from additional units at Penny’s Bay there will be 27,000 hotel rooms, as well as 3,000 flats in three public housing blocks that will be used exclusively for this purpose.

As the spread of the virus is not expected to be contained until after two to three months, the Legislative Council passed an emergency regulation ordinance Cap241 (2)(1) to delay the Chief Executive election from March 27, 2022 to May 8, 2022.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The nomination process will now start from Apr 3 to 16 and canvassing of votes will be from Apr 27 to May 8.

The CE said this is not the first time that an election is being postponed because of the pandemic. In July 2020, when the third wave of the pandemic was at its peak, the CE and Executive Council passed the same emergency regulation to delay the Legco elections by one year.

 

Gov't opens first hotel to isolate people who test positive for Covid-19

Tang inspects Dorsett Tsuen Wan, the first hotel turned into a community isolation facility. B

The first hotel transformed into a Community Isolation Facility (CIF) was opened today in Tsuen Wan to house people who have tested positive for Covid-19 but with minor or no symptoms.

Dorsett Tsuen Wan will be joined this week by three other hotels that will be made into CIFs --  iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel, iclub Fortress Hill Hotel and Regal Oriental Hotel.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, inspected Dorsett Tsuen Wan yesterday to ensure the first CIF hotel is ready.

In all, the government has secured about 4,400 hotel rooms for use in the CIF program, which will be brought into service by a task force formed by the Security Bureau (SB) and headed by former Director of Fire Services Li Kin-yat. as officer-in-charge.

Pindutin para sa detalye

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The rooms are expected to relieve the pressure on hospitals, which have been swamped by new Covid-19 cases, and had reached their maximum capacity.

Tang said the SB has recruited some 1,000 retirees of various disciplinary forces to be deployed to various CIFs or hotels to assist the operation and management of the facilities. All personnel will receive relevant training and be equipped with sufficient protective gear.

CONTACT US!

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The government will maintain close liaison and co-operation with the participating hotels to ensure the orderly transfer of people, their isolation in the designated hotel rooms and subsequent discharge.

Tang expressed his gratitude to hotels participating in the scheme for supporting the anti-epidemic work, hoping that the Government and the hotel sector, with concerted efforts, can join hands in riding out the fifth wave of the epidemic.

Pinay, nakipag-ayos sa amo pagkatapos ng halos 7 buwan na paghahabol

Nagkaayos ang dating mag-amo matapos ang paliwanagan.

Nagwakas sa areglo ang kasong inihain ng isang Pilipina sa Labour Tribunal upang habulin ang dapat bayaran ng among nagsisante sa kanya noong gabi ng July 30, 2021 sa Cheung Chau.

Naganap ang pagkakasundo nina Sany Jane Caronan at dati niyang among si Damian George Flynn noong Feb 16 matapos silang paliwanagan ni Presiding Officer Jo Siu tungkol sa tatlong bayarin na pinagtalunan sa kaso.

Ang unang hiningi ni Caronan ay $100 para sa pagkain at iba pang gastos sa pag-uwi niya mula Maynila hanggang Isabela, na agad sinang-ayunan ng dating amo.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Ang pangalawa ay ang $4,500 na hiningi niyang pamasahe sa paglipad pa-Manila. Inalmahan ito ni Flynn na nag-alok ng $1,827. Pero ayon kay Siu, ang karaniwang presyo ng tiket ngayong panahon ng pandemya ay $3,000, kaya pumayag dito ang magkabilang panig.

Tumagal ang usapan sa ikatlong hiling ni Caronan, na nasa kontratang pinirmahan nilang mag-amo: isang buwang suweldo kapalit ng abiso (in lieu of notice) ng kanyang pagkasisante.

Ipinilit ni Flyn ang karapatan niyang magsisante, at dahil may mabigat na rason daw ito – katulad ng  pabaya sa trabaho si Caronan at hindi ito sumusunod sa utos– ay hindi niya na kailangang magbayad ng para sa "notice."

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Nang hingan siya ng halimbawa ni Siu na nagpabaya sa trabaho si Caronan, sinabi ni Flynn na minsan, may kalaro ang kanyang anak na apat na taong gulang. Nagsumbong daw ang kalaro sa ina nito na natutulog si Caronan habang naglalaro sila, imbes na magbantay sa kanila.

Hindi rin daw nagpapaalam si Caronan kapag umaalis sa kanyang day off, kaya naiiwang mag-isa ang anak niya. Nang tanungin kung bakit nagkakaganito, ipinaliwanag ni Flynn na nakahiwalay sa bahay ang kwartong tinutulugan nilang mag-asawa.

Sinabi rin ni Flynn na ang anak niya ay nagkaroon ng problema sa pag-uugali, dahil sinisipa niya si Caronan. Inutusan daw nila ang helper na isumbong sa kanila kapag ginawa ulit ito ng bata, pero hindi na nagsumbong ito.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Dito sumingit si Siu upang sabihin na ang paghubog ng ugali ng kanilang anak ay lampas na sa dapat asahan sa isang domestic helper.

Idinagdag niya na ang mga ipinakitang pruweba ng magkabilang panig ay hindi sapat, kaya kung magpapatigasan sila, maaaring isampa sa korte ang kanilang kaso.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Sinabi niya kay Caronan na hindi niya gustong tumagal ito sa Hong Kong nang walang trabaho, dahil matatagalan bago masisimulan sa korte ang kaso at hindi siya bibigyan ng bagong employment visa ng Immigration Department habang dinidinig pa ito.

Kay Flynn, inisa-isa niya ang bigat ng pagkakaroon ng kaso, gaya ng anim na araw na gugugulin para sa hearing na pwede niyang gamitin sa paghahanap-buhay.

CONTACT US!

At pwede ring hindi matatapos dito ang kaso, kung i-apela ang magiging resulta nito.

Kaya iminungkahi niya sa magkabilang panig na magkasundo sa isang presyo bilang kabayaran sa lahat ng hinahabol ni Caronan. Ang kapalit nito ay walang ituturong may kasalanan, at hindi na sila pwedeng maghabla laban sa isa’t isa tungkol sa kaso. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Nag-alok si Caronan na bawasan ng kalahati ang kanyang hinahabol, ngunit iminungkahi ni Siu ang kabuuang kabayarang $5,300. Agad namang tinanggap ito ng magkabilang panig, at noon din ay pinirmahan nila ang kasunduan.

HK urged to give isolation facilities for displaced migrant workers

By Daisy CL Mandap 

The 2 Filipina workers spent more than 1 day huddled in the cold outside Queen Mary

The Hong Kong government has been urged to provide isolation facilities for foreign domestic workers who have tested positive and have no place to stay either because their employers kicked them out, or they were about to go home after being terminated.

The call was made during an online press conference held earlier today by the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, which said the affected workers ended up camping out amid the cold and rain outside the emergency rooms of public hospitals which did not want to admit them, or sleeping in a park.

“Where is the government when we need help?,” asked Eman Villanueva, AMCB spokesperson. “This is very cruel and inhumane.”

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“We have been taking care of Hong Kong families for decades, but when we get sick, we are left out in the cold and deprived of financial assistance.”

Villanueva mentioned in particular the plight of one FDW who had to spend two days in a park in Yau Ma Tei as she had nowhere to go after testing positive just before her intended departure back home.

The worker was reportedly denied a new employment visa after she terminated her previous contract due to ill-treatment by her employer.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Villanueva acknowledged reports that the government is negotiating to secure hotel rooms to be turned into isolation rooms for patients with mild or no symptoms, but said he hoped migrant workers, including those who no longer have visas, would be accommodated there.

He also said their stay there should be free as the cost of staying in a hotel for up to 14 days is beyond the workers’ means.

Earlier, The SUN reported on five other Filipino workers who were forced to spend overnight on Monday outside Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam, or the North Lantau Hospital Infection Control Centre.

Pindutin para sa detalye

One was forced out by her employer while the rest were not allowed to move back in by fellow helpers in their respective boarding houses. Three were about to leave for the Philippines and decided to take their pre-flight Covid-19 tests at the airport when they tested positive.

Another worker sent a picture of some folding chairs she said she had to sleep on while waiting inside a tent reserved for coronavirus patients outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

AMCB wants isolation rooms and help for Covid-positive migrant workers (FILE)

The workers at North Lantau Hospital have since been admitted to an isolation facility, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of the Philippine Consulate, while the two outside Queen Mary were accommodated in a boarding house secured for them by Help for Domestic Workers.

Separately, the worker in Yau Ma Tei was also given shelter by Help, a non-government organization, said a news report.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The fourth worker who was at Queen Elizabeth has yet to give an update on her whereabouts and condition.

AMCB chairperson Dolores Balladares-Pelaez also called on the Hong Kong government and the consulates of sending countries not to call on migrant workers to stay at home on their rest days as this gives employers reason to demand that they do not take a day-off.

“It is very important for us migrant domestic workers to take a day-off,” said Pelaez, adding that it is the only day in the week when they can get away from the stress of having to work long hours, especially now that many employers work from home.

CONTACT US!

Such a call also “stigmatize” FDWs as virus carriers, she said.

Sringatin, an Indonesian spokesperson of AMCB, also said the call for migrants to stay at home belies the fact that the record infections came from family gatherings by locals over the Chinese New Year.

She also decried employers ordering their workers to buy their own rapid antigen testing kits so as to prove they are not carrying the virus into their homes.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Eni Lestari of International Migrants Alliance hit out at the alleged singling out of migrant workers in the enforcement of anti-gathering restrictions, pointing out to such operations being carried out only during the weekends at known FDW haunts.

She also warned that police are preparing to intensify their enforcement operations this coming weekend.

Manatili sa bahay kapag nagpositibo sa Covid-19, sabi ni Congen

 By The SUN

Tulungan natin na masugpo ang Covid-19 sa HK, sabi ni Congen

Nanawagan si Consul General Raly Tejada sa mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong na sumunod sa mga patakaran bilang pakikiisa sa pagsugpo sa paglaganap ng Covid-19 dito.

Halimbawa, ang mga nakatanggap ng abiso na nagpositibo sila sa coronavirus ay dapat manatili sa bahay alinsunod sa abiso ng gobyerno.

“Doon sa mga kababayan natin na, sad to say, ay preliminary positive after testing o positive, ang kasulukuyan pong gabay ng ating Center for Health Protection ay manatili lang sa bahay at antayin ang patnubay at tawag ng CHP,” ika ni Congen Tejada sa isang video message na inilathala sa Facebook page ng Konsulado kahapon.

“Kung kayo naman ay may mild or moderate symptoms, manatili po tayo sa bahay at huwag lalabas. Ang CHP po ang tatawag sa inyo kung magkakaroon po ng bakante sa kanilang ospital sapagkat po sa dami ng nagkakasakit. Almost 10,000 po ngayon ang naghihintay na maasikaso o mabigyan ng hospital room or quarantine room dito sa Hong Kong.

“At iyon naman pong mayroong seryosong sintomas, tulad ng pagsisikip ng dibdib, pananakit ng katawan at pag-ubo at may serious breathing difficulties, yan po ay kailangang itawag po ninyo ng ambulansiya at nang madala kayo for admission sa hospital.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Ang payo naman ni Congen Tejada sa mga lumalabas tuwing day off ay sumunod sa social distancing rules: dalawa lang ang pwedeng magkasama sa grupo, at laging magsuot ng facemask kapag nasa labas.

“Last weekend, marami pong natiketan, marami pong nasita, sapagkat hindi po sumusunod. At ako po’y natawagan ng mga autoridad ng Hong Kong to remind you, aking mahal na kababayan, na sana po tayo’y sumunod sapagkat sila mismo, ayaw din po nilang magtiket,” ika niya. 

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“Ngunit kung ito po ay tinatawag ng pagkakataon at kayo po ay totoong nahuli, despite repeated warnings, sila po ay compelled by law to issue a ticket.”

Nanghinayang siya sa mawawala sa nahuli. “$5,000 din po iyon at hindi maliit na halaga. Napakasakit po na yung pinaghirapan po natin ng isang buwan ay mapuputa lang doon,” dagdag niya.

CONTACT US!

Sinabi rin niya na kung makatanggap ng compulsory testing notice ay sumunod agad at mag-tungo sa pinakamalapit na testing center upang malaman kung sila ay ligtas at maiwasan na rin ang multang $10,000.

“Kailangan po nating magkaisa at kailangan nating tulungan ang Hong Kong at ang ating sarili  na magapi ang Covid-19 dito,” ika niya.

Press for details

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Binigyang-diin niya ang “lumalalang sitwasyon ng pandemya at patuloy na pag-akyat ng bilang ng mga Covid-19 positive at impeksiyon dito sa Hong kong.”

Ayon kay Congen, mananatiling bukas ang Konsulado, mula Linggo hanggang Huwebes, upang pagsilbihan ang Filipino community.

Pero hiniling rin niya na kung pwedeng ipagpaliban na lang ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang transaksyon ay huwag na muna silang magpunta sa Konsulado. 

Gov't to monitor FDH boarding houses more closely

Employment agencies' boarding houses will be monitored more closely.

The Labour Department has pledged to monitor more closely the boarding houses provided by employment agencies (EAs) to foreign domestic helpers waiting for their working visas, to ensure that they are clean and livable.

Labour was responding to a report published today by the Ombudsman on  "Government's regulation of boarding facilities for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs)", which noted an array of problems, including overcrowding, poor hygiene and suspected violations of the permitted use of the building.

The Ombudsman said that with the policy to import FDHs, who now number around 370,000, the governent has a duty to ensure reasonable protection of their well-being, including with regard to their temporary boarding facilities.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Aside from a list of recommendations to Labour, the Ombudsman also urged the Immigration Department to process working visa applications more quickly to reduce demand for these boarding houses, and for the Home Affairs Department to optimize procedures for handling complaints about these facilities.

Ombudsman Winnie Chiu’s recommendations for improvement were welcomed and accepted by the three agencies.

For its part, Labour said employment agencies are not required to provide boarding facilities for job-seekers (including FDHs) under the Employment Ordinance, the Employment Agency Regulations and the Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP).

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

But if they do maintain one, the CoP requires that “they must ensure that the relevant approval(s) or licence(s) for operating the boarding facilities or bedspaces have been obtained from all relevant government authorities, and the prescribed standards in respect of building structure, fire safety as well as health and hygiene as specified in the relevant laws of Hong Kong and/or any other licensing requirements as devised for such facilities are fully and satisfactorily met at all times.”

If an agency violates the CoP, the Commissioner for Labour may revoke or refuse to issue/renew its licence, or issue warnings so that the irregularities are corrected.

“Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Labour has repeatedly reminded agencies to keep their boarding facilities hygienic and observe the relevant health guidelines in order to minimize any infection risk. We will continue our efforts in this respect,” it said.

CONTACT US!

As suggested by the Ombudsman, Labour will strengthen the monitoring of boarding facilities and work more closely with other government departments to facilitate checking, exchange of information, referral of complaint cases and follow-up actions, it said.

Other recommendations include: 

(1) liaising with stakeholders and requesting agencies to submit information about their FDH boarding facilities (if any), thereby creating a database for such boarding facilities; 

(2) compiling and publishing a list of FDH boarding facilities operated by agencies for better information transparency and facilitating informed choices of FDHs, as well as fostering improvement in the sector's operation standards by market forces;

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

(3) revising the CoP with more specific details on the relevant laws, standards and guidelines applicable to agencies engaged in FDH boarding service for their reference and compliance;

(4) stepping up education in urging agencies to actively co-operate with the Government's initiatives, and encouraging voluntary improvement of FDH boarding facilities;

The full investigation report can be read in the website of the Office of The Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.hk.

HK posts another day of record infections and deaths from Covid-19

By Daisy CL Mandap 

Officials will free up more space for patients who have been waiting outside hospitals amid the cold (RTHK)

Health officials have reported yet another record number of confirmed cases and deaths in Hong Kong.

Speaking at today’s press briefing, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection announced that 6,116 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were recorded as of midnight last night. Nine were imported and the rest were all locally acquired.

The preliminary positive cases were down slightly to 6,300 from yesterday’s record high of 7,000 cases.

A total of 24 Covid-related deaths were also reported, 14 males and 10 females. Fifteen died within the past 24 hours, while nine others passed away between Feb 11 and 15, but their deaths were not reported immediately.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

They took Hong Kong’s death toll recorded in public hospitals to 219.

According to Dr Sara Ho from the Hospital Authority, most of the fatalities, who ranged in age from 36 to 98 years old, were unvaccinated. The 36-year-old had chronic ailments and needed long-term care, while the rest are mostly elderly.

A further 10 patients are in critical condition, and their ages range between 12 months and 94 years old. Among them is a 28-year-old woman whose condition deteriorated after giving birth, and had to be intubated in the intensive care unit.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

“The child is safe,” said Dr Ho, who also reported an unprecedented 60 patients in serious condition.

For the first time, the CHP reported that 6,199 patients are quarantined at home, and 3,152 of them belong to family clusters.

The HA said that the remaining 2,866 patients are in various public hospitals and infection control centers, while 2,100 others with mild or no symptoms are in Penny’s Bay isolation facility.

Discharge will be quicker so vulnerable patients like the elderly can be admitted

Dr Ho acknowledged that amid the cold and rain, thousands of patients, many of them elderly, are being made to wait outside public hospitals, some of them in tents and others in open air, because there are no more beds available.

She said hospital staff are worried about their condition and are trying their best to cope despite the shortage of manpower. “It’s a very difficult situation for the whole society,” she said.

As of today, she said 140 of their personnel have tested preliminary positive or positive, and about 50 patients have been classified as close contacts.

CONTACT US!

She assured the patients that hospital staff will keep an eye on their condition and are working to get them indoors so they are not exposed to the elements.

To further alleviate the situation, Dr Ho said the discharge criteria for Covid-19 patients will be modified some more.

Those who are admitted to hospital and test negative after 14 days will be discharged, unless they belong to the high-risk categories, such as the elderly and those with long-term illnesses.

To free up more beds, residential care homes will be asked to take back their residents who are in hospital and could be discharged.

Press for details

Dr Ho said this has been a problem because many such facilities are reluctant to take back their residents, fearing this could increase the risk of infection among the other residents and staff.

She said that as part of stepped-up measures, said the help of private medical practitioners will be enlisted. The need for additional help is so severe that “if they reported this morning, they could start active duty in the afternoon,” she said.

Another measure being taken pertains to patients who are staying at home in compliance with the CHP’s directions, and announced by Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi.

Those lucky enough to secure a place in an isolation facility will be allowed to return home on the seventh day if they test negative prior to this, and their home setting allows it. But they will still need to isolate for a further seven days.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

If the patient’s home setting is not deemed ideal, he or she will have to stay at the community isolation facility for 14 days and must test negative. Dr Chui said the 14^th day is always the cut-off period

Dr Chui thanked those who tested positive and are waiting at home, but was not clear about whether they will need to be taken to an isolation facility still if they test negative in the meantime.

Asked to confirm reports that mandatory testing for all of Hong Kong’s 7,000 residents will soon be undertaken, Dr Chui said there are a number of steps that the government is planning to take up to help people.

He also said that the fifth wave has infected more people in Hong Kong than all the previous waves combined since the start of the pandemic. From January this year to yesterday, he said 30,955 cases have been confirmed.