By The SUN
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| St Teresa's Hospital in Kowloon has accepted the most number of patients from public hospitals |
All 13 private hospitals
have agreed to provide more beds to non-Covid-19 patients in public hospitals
in case the number of infected people who need hospitalization continues to
mount.
This was disclosed in a government press release issued late on Wednesday, after health authorities reported an additional 9,495 coronavirus infections, including 228 imported cases.
According to the statement, all private hospitals have already committed to provide a total of 364 beds at the initial stage of the patient transfer arrangement with the Hospital Authority. This will be gradually brought up to around 1,000 “depending on actual demand.”
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Health Secretary Prof Lo Chung-mau is quoted in the statement as saying private hospitals are making more rooms available to patients from public hospitals.
He said at least 380 beds have already been set aside by the private hospitals for non-Covid patients from public hospitals, with the occupancy rate going up to 70 percent on Tuesday, from less than 50% a week ago.
Prof Lo said he was pleased to learn that private hospitals have responded positively to the appeal to accept more patients from public hospitals to help alleviate pressure on the public health system, but would like to see the cooperation extended further.
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“I hope that private hospitals can fulfill their social responsibility and meet the public expectations by continuing their collaboration with the HA and resolving difficulties in a positive and pragmatic manner, in a bid to expedite the transfer arrangement for HA patients to receive early treatment in private hospitals,” Lo was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection said at the daily press briefing that with the continuing rise in the number of infections each day, “we can expect the number of cases to rise above 10,000 soon.”
Nine more Covid-related deaths were reported, involving patients aged 34 to 97 years old. They took the total tally in the fifth wave to 9,477.
Dr Lau Ka-hin of the Hospital Authority said the 34-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital on Aug 29 complaining of a pain in his leg which was swollen, and a stomach ache. He tested positive for Covid-19 on rapid test two days earlier.
A day after being admitted his blood pressure dropped. His condition deteriorated and he had to be intubated. He passed away early this morning.
Lau said doctors believe the patient’s death was due to a hidden health condition like vascular thrombosis and not Covid-19.
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| Press for details |
The patient received three vaccine jabs. Only one other deceased patient had the same number of shots. Two of them did not receive any vaccination at all.
A total of 2,598 Covid patients are now receiving treatment in public hospitals, including 53 who are in critical condition and 51 in serious condition. Fifteen critically ill patients are in intensive care.
Because of the continuing rise in infections, Lau said public hospitals give priority to those in serious condition when admitting patients, as well as the elderly.
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| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love |
"We are admitting quite a lot of the elderly to hospitals for treatment of Covid as well as other medical illnesses, because we know that many of the elderly have other medical diseases, for example hypertension. Some of them even have cancer. We are screening the cases according to our clinical judgement," he said.
Lau said those with mild symptoms who can be looked after at home will not be admitted to hospitals because their beds are now being reserved for those with serious symptoms or illnesses.
Of the 228 imported cases, 110 tested positive on arrival at the airport, 59 during the three-day hotel quarantine, 51 on days 4 to 7 of their arrival, and 8 after. The latter had high Ct values so they are likely re-positive cases.
The infected travelers came from 51 countries, and the following had more than 10 passengers who tested positive after arriving in Hong Kong: United Kingdom, 32; United States, 20; Thailand, 18; India, 16; the Philippines, 14; France, 13; and Vietnam, 11.
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| PADALA NA! |
