![](\"https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/05/20200507/20200507_172100_983/images/20200507182335266.jpg\"/)
(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)
The Centre for Health Protection today said recovered COVID-19 patients or those who did not have any symptoms may be discharged from hospital 10 days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result.
Its Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan told a press briefing that the revised discharge criteria was based on the latest scientific evidence.
“Our Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases met yesterday and examined the latest scientific evidence on whether the virus will be viable from a patient.
“And the available evidence showed that this virus is usually not detected after 10 days since the onset of symptoms of patients. Some patients may have persistent positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for a long period of time.”
Dr Chuang noted that patients still had to meet the criteria of having two clinical specimens test negative, or testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody to be discharged.
“We have revised the discharge criteria to include the patient who (must have) been staying in the hospital for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms. So this is the additional criteria, in addition to the previous criteria of two consecutive negative specimens.
“We added another criteria (which is) in case a patient has stayed in the hospital for a long time, more than 10 days since the onset of symptoms, but he or she has persistent positive PCR despite the Ct (cycle threshold) value being very high, they can check their serology, the antibody. So if the antibody turns positive, usually it is after 10 days, then he or she can be discharged.
“So this is based on the latest scientific evidence.”
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(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)
A recovered COVID-19 patient has tested positive for the virus again, the Hospital Authority announced today.
The authority’s Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin told a media briefing this afternoon that the patient was first admitted to Queen Mary Hospital on March 24 after having fever for a week. He subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.
He was discharged on April 16 after two consecutive negative tests for the virus.
Dr Lau said: \"The patient presented to the Accident & Emergency Department of Queen Mary Hospital on May 5 because of some abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
\"He was admitted to our hospital and was found to have a positive result for COVID-19 in the throat saliva, but the cycle threshold value is very high - nearly 36.
\"The experts consider that this is the residual virus left in the patient’s body, which is not infective, and it is not likely to be a reinfection at this moment.\"
He added that the patient is in a stable condition.
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The Centre for Health Protection today announced it is investigating four additional confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The newly reported cases involve four males aged between 11 and 47. All of them travelled during the incubation period.
Epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing.
The centre again urged the public to maintain an appropriate social distance from other people as much as possible to minimise the risk of infection.
People should go out less and avoid social activities such as having meals out or other gatherings to minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community.
As the COVID-19 situation remains severe and the number of cases reported around the world continues to rise, people are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong as well as maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times.
Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that there are currently 120 patients under isolation and that 944 patients have been discharged upon recovery.
For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
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