The epidemic situation in Hong Kong continues to worsen. The Hospital Authority (HA) announces today (Dec. 9) that 4,018 first-time visitors to Accident and Emergency services (A&Es) were recorded in public hospitals on Tuesday(Dec. 8), which was slightly down from the previous day. 900 of them were transferred to inpatient care. HK's public hospital's inpatient bed occupancy rate at midnight yesterday reached 98%.
Among the 17 public hospitals in HK, seven have been operating above capacity, with the sickbeds fully occupied. Among them, Pok Oi Hospital has the highest occupancy rate of 113%, followed by the Tuen Mun Hospital with 110%. The occupancy rate of pediatric beds was 53% as of Tuesday midnight, with Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) having the highest rate of 77%.
The Hospital Authority (HA) has opened Hall 8 and Hall 10 in the community treatment facility of AsiaWorld-Expo last week, providing an additional 500 beds.
Among the new infections on Tuesday, the cluster related to the AsiaWorld-Expo saw nine new patients, bringing the total to 12. Around 80 people related to the cluster would be quarantined.
The HA announced earlier that it will gradually adjust its services, including reducing non-emergency services, to spare time and room for admission screening. He adds that more health care providers will be transferred from hospitals to the AWE center.
Comment