SWD announces new arrangements for elderly with Covid

The Social Welfare Department said new arrangements will come into effect from Tuesday to allow holding centres in different districts to admit more residents from residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) who have Covid-19 – but with only mild symptoms.

It said this is intended to help public hospitals and community treatment facilities prioritise their staffing to handle more severe cases.

Under the new arrangement, RCHEs can contact the Social Welfare Department and the Centre for Health Protection when residents test positive for coronavirus, and mild or asymptomatic cases will be sent to holding centres, while the holding centres will continue to receive recovering elderly after they’ve been assessed by the Hospital Authority.

The Social Welfare Department said the new arrangement would apply to all the holding centres operated by the Department, including a new holding centre at Tsuen Wan West Sports Centre, which came into effect on Monday and is equipped with 150 beds.