Some hospital patients to be allowed visitors

Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan Siu-chee has indicated that some people may be allowed to visit relatives in hospital under special circumstances now that the government is lifting some social distancing restrictions, RTHK reports.

The Hospital Authority (HA) announced in January that hospital visits would be suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak, but exceptions could be allowed on compassionate grounds.

One woman told an RTHK program on Wednesday morning that her 70-year-old husband has been in hospital for more than a month after an operation, and was not allowed any family visits.

She said that because her husband does not have a phone, she has not been able to communicate with him, and was hoping officials would lift restrictions on hospital visits to allow at least one family member in.

Speaking on the same program, Chan said although the HA has resumed some routine services, the response level under the government's Preparedness Response Plan is still at "emergency", the highest after "serious" and "alert".

But she acknowledged that a lot of people do want to visit relatives in hospital, and said that if there are special circumstances, then the patient's family can make arrangements with the HA, who will evaluate requests and try to strike a balance so that public health is not put at risk.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that starting from Friday, the limit on the number of people allowed to gather in groups will be increased from four to eight, while businesses such as bars and gyms will be allowed to reopen, albeit with some restrictions on their operations until May 21.

Restaurants, which were forced to operate at half their capacity and seat no more than four people per table, will be allowed to seat up to eight people per table from Friday onwards.

Chan acknowledged that the situation is "not ideal", but urged people to stay vigilant, for instance by putting face masks on during periods when they are not eating.

There have been no locally-acquired infections for 16 consecutive days in Hong Kong, with the total number of confirmed cases standing at 1,040.