(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) The number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong increased to 1040 cases and a total of 900 people were discharged
China News Agency, Hong Kong, May 4 (Reporter Han Xingtong) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Department of Health's Center for Health Protection reported on the 4th that a new case of new coronary pneumonia has been confirmed, and the cumulative number of diagnoses has increased to 1040. In addition, a total of 899 confirmed patients and one suspected patient have been discharged from hospital so far.
Zhang Zhujun, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR Government, said the newly confirmed case involved a 27-year-old Hong Kong woman who has lived in the United States for a long time. She had symptoms such as loss of taste, smell, and sore throat on April 11, but did not seek medical treatment. She returned to Hong Kong to visit relatives alone on the morning of May 4 and left a sample of deep throat saliva at the AsiaWorld-Expo. The test result was positive. Zhang Zhujun claimed that the patient did not return home and had no other contacts.
As for passengers returning to Hong Kong on the same flight, Zhang Zhujun said that the test results are coming out one after another. The patient's front, back, left, and right seats will be considered as close contacts, but since all people will be subject to 14-day mandatory home quarantine after the virus test, the CHP will not send them to the quarantine center.
Liu Jiaxian, Chief Administrative Manager (Quality and Standards) of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) said that as of 12:00 noon, the HA had reported 15 suspected cases in the past 24 hours. A total of 899 confirmed patients and 1 suspected patient have been discharged from hospital so far. As of 12:00 noon, a total of 136 diagnosed patients were hospitalized in 14 hospitals, of which 1 was in critical condition, 6 were in serious condition, and the remaining 129 were in stable condition.
In addition, as of 9 a.m., the HA has opened 1,231 negative pressure beds and 666 negative pressure beds, with utilization rates of 37% and 50%, respectively.
As of the 4th, there have been no local cases in Hong Kong for 15 consecutive days, and many medical experts have put forward opinions on relaxing restrictions on epidemic prevention. Zhang Zhujun revealed that the SAR Government is studying how to make appropriate arrangements. She also pointed out that whether the local communication chain has been broken generally depends on no new confirmed cases within two incubation periods (that is, 28 days). Therefore, the public is urged to continue wearing masks and should not relax.
In response to the local epidemic situation beginning to stabilize, the HA began to gradually restore non-emergency services this month. Liu Jiaxian emphasized that the restoration of any service must take into account aspects such as infection control, protective equipment, and number of people. Leave space to cope with the outbreak of the epidemic situation, so as to avoid insufficient resources and manpower to deal with it. (Finish)