(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Hospital Authority today announced that seven designated clinics will come into service from tomorrow for people with COVID-19 symptoms but are awaiting hospital admission.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the authority’s Chief Manager (Patient Safety & Risk Management) Dr Sara Ho said people seeking consultation must make appointments by telephone to avoid queues at the clinics.

“For the designated clinics, they are open for those symptomatic, preliminary positive or positively confirmed cases who are waiting for admission to either hospital or designated isolation facilities. They need to pre-register and book through the telephone, so they can arrive separately.”

Dr Ho outlined which patients could be handled by the clinics.

“If the patients have mild symptoms that can be controlled by paracetamol or cough medicine, then they can monitor their condition and stay at home. But for those patients who have symptoms but do not have medication at home or after a telephone consultation or enquiry still want to see a doctor, the designated clinic is (an option).”

She added that the authority will closely monitor the service needs and operation of the clinics to dovetail with the latest developments of the epidemic.

The designated clinics will run from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.

The Department of Health supplemented in a press release this evening that some of its clinics and service units which are at the same locations as designated clinics will be temporarily closed or adjust services from tomorrow, having regard to infection control for a more effective segregation of patients and other users.