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3 nurses test initially positive

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)   The Hospital Authority today reported that three nurses at Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested preliminary positive for COVID-19 yesterday.   The authority's Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin told a press briefing that the hospital infection control team and the Centre for Health Protection did not have sufficient evidence to confirm an epidemiological link between the three nurses.    One of the nurses worked in a medical ward, the other worked in the isolation ward and the remaining nurse worked in a medical ward but was arranged to work in the isolation ward from December 7 for six weeks.   “One of the nurses was working in the isolation ward all along. Another nurse worked in the isolation ward from December 7 last year to January 17 this year. On January 13 this year, these two nurses have been working on the same shift. So they have been working together for a while and had some contact with adequate personal protective equipment. Otherwise, up to this moment, we cannot find any epidemiological linkage among these three nurses.”   After contact tracing, 10 healthcare workers are classified as close contacts and quarantine will be arranged.   As the three nurses wore appropriate personal protective equipment at work, no patient is classified as a close contact, Dr Lau added.   He called on the public to avoid going to Queen Elizabeth Hospital's accident and emergency department if they have minor symptoms.   “For the hospital operation, if you remember, we have closed one ward before as a nurse has been confirmed with COVID-19. So up to this moment, there are three medical wards closed for admission of cases.   “So it will affect the admission of cases from the accident and emergency department if the patients need to be admitted to the medical ward.   “Because of that, we make an appeal to Hong Kong citizens to try to avoid going to the accident and emergency department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of some minor symptoms.   “Citizens can go to the general outpatient clinic as well as the private doctor if they have mild symptoms.   “However, at this moment, the accident and emergency department is still working. So it can still receive patients from trauma or any emergency situation.   “And people who think they need emergency treatment, they can still go to the accident and emergency department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.”   The hospital has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection of the workplace concerned, the staff pantry and changing rooms.   It will offer virus tests to all staff starting from tomorrow, Dr Lau added.
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