HA Eyes Options For Covid-19 Patients To Convalesce

The Hospital Authority said on Saturday that it could start sending recovering coronavirus patients to Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village in one or two weeks.

The authority's chief executive Tony Ko told RTHK during a radio programme that elderly patients and people with chronic illnesses have been requiring longer hospital stays.

Health officials on Friday reported 58 new cases of Covid-19 in Hong Kong, of which 50 were contracted locally. That's a reduction on the record 67 cases on Thursday.

Many were linked to the Tsz Wan Shan area, including two restaurant dish-washers, two vegetable sellers, a security guard and five people who ate at restaurants.

The increase has intensified pressure on health facilities, and Ko said his authority is working with the private sector on how to boost the supply of second-tier quarantine beds.

He also said officials are looking at using the Asia World-Expo on Lantau island as another community quarantine centre for recovering Covid-19 patients.

Sources told RTHK that quarantine facilities at some 300 pre-fabricated units at the Lei Yue Mun camp are ready for use.

It's understood that only patients who are without fever, have low virus levels and who can take care of themselves will be sent there.