Kudos to all of you (2)

The trustworthy Infection Control Team

Wong Shuk-ching, Senior Nursing Officer Infection Control Team Hong Kong West Cluster

“Infection Control Team is pivotal in preventing hospital outbreaks during the pandemic. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have been promoting infection control measures in different departments, including donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE), and handling of high-risk specimens. Staff safety is our priority.

In the initial phase of the outbreak, we knew little about this virus, especially with suspicion of ‘airborne transmission’ among the public. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Dr Vincent Cheng and I took the opportunity to collect air samples from the first COVID-19 patient in Hong Kong inside the airborne infection isolation room of Princess Margaret Hospital. We wanted to demonstrate whether viral RNA was present in the patient’s exhaled air or not. This can facilitate our understanding of its mode of transmission. Some of my colleagues asked if I was worried about the infectious risk. As an infection control nurse, I believe that I have to take the lead to solve the mystery. Moreover, we should be a role model to convince our staff that the facilities and PPE provided by the hospital are sufficient to protect ourselves. With reference to the experimental findings, we are able to reassure our colleagues that the virus is not predominantly transmitted via airborne route.

Besides, it is my pleasure to participate in the work in the quarantine centre at Chun Yeung Estate and the temporary test centre at AsiaWorld-Expo, and be responsible for planning and designing the workflow to ensure the safety of our colleagues as well as the public. These works have reduced hospital admissions, and thus prevented overloading of isolation wards. The decreasing trend of confirmed cases proved that our effort was not in vain. I believe that, as long as we comply with the infection control measures, particularly hand hygiene practice, we will win the battle against COVID-19.”

Wong Shuk-ching
Senior Nursing Officer
Infection Control Team
Hong Kong West Cluster

Staunch backing from IT Team

“To enable a systematic reporting of patients based on Fever, Travel, Occupation, Contact and Clustering (FTOCC) criteria, we convened an emergency meeting with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) on 3 January and developed the details of the electronic notification programme ‘eNID’. Two days after putting it to the test, the system was activated. Thereafter, we performed regular updates for the system to cope with rapid change of the pandemic. Although we are not at the forefront of the battle, it is our pleasure to contribute by providing useful information to Chief Infection Control Officer Office, Major Incident Control Centre and CHP.”

Barry Fong
Health Informatics Analyst I
Information Technology and Health Informatics Division
Head Office

“To facilitate early identification of high-risk patients, our team has worked unitedly to develop a new feature of ’Travel History Enquiry’ on Clinical Management System (CMS), which enables medical staff to view patients’ inbound and outbound information in the past 30 days. This enhancement has to be made compatible with six other existing systems, so we have taken extra care in its development. Preparatory work began in early February and the new feature was launched three days later. I am glad that it assists the frontline in the battle against COVID-19, and I am deeply touched that all IT colleagues have completed this challenge for the greater good of our frontline comrades.”

Leo Lee
Systems Manager
Information Technology and Health Informatics Division
Head Office

Multitasking in full team

Zoe Leung, Head Office Duty Officer Head Office Major Incident Control Centre (left) and Clement Li, Head Office Duty Officer Head Office Major Incident Control Centre (right)

“Starting from January, all Head Office Duty Officers (HODOs) of Head Office Major Incident Control Centre (HOMICC) have been working against time. Every day before the press briefing at 4:30 pm, we must compile all relevant information, including the latest condition of those confirmed cases, bed and ward occupancy, so that the HA spokesperson could make the announcement. We also need to look for available isolation beds in hospitals for confirmed and suspected cases referred by multiple units including the Department of Health and the test centre at AsiaWorld-Expo. We will need to liaise with the Cluster Bed Coordinators, hospital wards and referral parties for each case. Extra coordination will be required for paediatric cases and family group referrals. It is a common scene in HOMICC that the DO is talking on two mobile phones while the desk telephone is ringing non-stop. We are simply too busy to answer all the incoming calls and messages!

Since March, HOMICC has been operating 24/7 and has handled over 2,000 confirmed and suspected cases. For the majority of confirmed cases, hospital beds were arranged within one day after receiving the referral. In addition, there are requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents in overseas countries referred by the Immigration Department, major local incidents as well as regular duties that have to be timely handled. All HOMICC colleagues, including the clerical staff are fully dedicated and committed to combating the virus on different fronts. Nonetheless, full credits to our healthcare coworkers who are fighting selflessly and fearlessly on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic!”

Zoe Leung (left)
Head Office Duty Officer
Head Office Major Incident Control Centre

Clement Li (right)
Head Office Duty Officer
Head Office Major Incident Control Centre

Cleaning duo

Li Wai-ying, Operation Assistant IIIA (In-patient service) Department of Pathology Tuen Mun Hospital

“Having been in the medical field for more than 10 years, we have prepared ourselves to work in isolation ward since we applied for this job. Recalling the swine influenza, we feel that the COVID-19 pandemic is moving even faster. Every day, we clean every isolation ward while carrying three cloths and two buckets of 1 in 49 diluted household bleach around. In order to facilitate the admission of new patients, we manage to clean the ward from high to low and clean to contaminated locations. We use personal protective gear prudently due to tight supply. Although we are tired all over after work, we are blessed that our children are grown-ups and our families have been very supportive, so that we can stay determined and focused on this battle against COVID-19.”

Li Wai-ying (above), Zhang Li-chan
Operation Assistant IIIA (In-patient service)
Department of Pathology
Tuen Mun Hospital