‘Don’t go to A&E if you have no or mild symptoms’: HA

The chief executive of the Hospital Authority, Tony Ko, on Saturday urged Covid patients with mild or no symptoms not to attend accident and emergency departments, saying hospitals are facing “extremely high pressure”.

In a video on the HA’s Facebook page, Ko said such patients should go to designated clinics instead.

“The number of people who’ve contracted Covid-19 has increased tremendously. This has put extremely high pressure on hospitals and our accident and emergency departments have become very crowded,” he said.

“I urge everyone, if you are unfortunate enough to contract Covid-19, and if your symptoms are mild, or if you have no symptoms, please don’t go to accident and emergency departments, because hospitalisation will not be arranged.”

To free up hospital beds, the authority on Saturday said patients, deemed fit for discharge, will be able to return home and isolate until the 14th day from their initial positive test.

The HA is also opening eight more clinics to treat Covid patients with mild symptoms from March 1.

Soon, a total of 17 clinics will provide such services, with a daily quota of 3,000.