An occupational therapist at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department has tested preliminary positive for COVID-19, the Hospital Authority said today.

Noting that three patient care assistants in the department’s out-patient clinic had tested positive for the virus earlier, the authority said the hospital's infection control team has been constantly monitoring the health of the department’s staff members and arranged COVID-19 tests for them.

The virus tests yesterday found that one more occupational therapist has tested preliminary positive.

On January 8, the therapist concerned worked where a care assistant confirmed with COVID-19 had stayed. She tested negative for the virus in a test arranged by the hospital the same day. She developed a mild sore throat yesterday.

The therapist does not perform high-risk clinical procedures and is equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work. No patient is identified as a close contact.

In view of the sequential occurrence of confirmed cases, the hospital's infection control team has expanded the scope of contact tracing.

Staff who had a meal or had stayed more than two hours cumulatively in the workplace concerned in the clinic would be classified as close contacts. As a result, five staff members are classified as close contacts and are required to quarantine for 14 days.

The hospital will arrange virus tests for all of the department's staff members, and the workplace concerned has been closed for thorough cleaning and disinfection.

Additionally, a Tuen Mun Hospital patient has tested preliminary positive for COVID-19.

The 62-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital’s Medicine & Geriatric Ward on January 6. A COVID-19 test admission screening was arranged for him and the result was negative. He remained asymptomatic during hospitalisation.

Since the patient was scheduled to undergo a medical procedure at Queen Elizabeth Hospital soon after, he was arranged to take the virus test again yesterday with one of the specimens testing weakly positive.

Fifteen patients who had stayed in the same cubicle with the patient are classified as close contacts and required to be quarantined. Five of them have been discharged and will be followed up by the Centre for Health Protection.

COVID-19 tests will be arranged for staff and the remaining patients of the ward under medical surveillance.

Patient admission to the ward concerned has been suspended and thorough cleaning and disinfection have been arranged.