The Hospital Authority today said that a Yan Chai Hospital Department of Operating Theatre Services nurse has tested preliminary positive for COVID-19.

The female nurse attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital's accident and emergency department due to persistent malaise since December 5. She was arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing and the result was positive.

She is now in isolation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a stable condition.

She last performed her duties on December 7 and did not come into contact with any COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

The authority said the nurse was classified as a close contact of a confirmed case announced yesterday and is thought to have acquired the infection in the community.

It also noted that the nurse was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment and she maintained proper hand hygiene.

Three nurses who had stayed in the same room as her without mask protection during on call overnight emergency operations were classified as close contacts and will be put under quarantine.

Two patients the nurse had come into brief contact with were classified as other contacts and required to undergo testing and 28-day medical surveillance.

The hospital has completed thorough cleansing and disinfection of the department concerned, the authority added.