Coronavirus: Hong Kong public hospitals prepare contingency plan to double number of Covid-19 patient beds to 5,000

Hong Kong’s public hospitals are making preparations to double the number of designated Covid-19 beds to 5,000 as a contingency measure, while a 27-month-old boy became the latest young patient to be placed in intensive care on Monday.

Dr Lau Ka-hin, a chief manager of the Hospital Authority, on Monday said the plan to increase the number of beds could be rolled out in the event of a surge in coronavirus cases.

“Currently we are in a phase-two response plan. If the pandemic further worsens, we will enter our phase-three plan where there will be 2,500 to 5,000 beds reserved for Covid-19 patients,” Lau said, adding the authority could also reopen its makeshift treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo if required.

Hong Kong reported 4,896 new coronavirus infections on Monday, 197 of which were imported, and four additional deaths. The city’s overall tally stands at 1,421,918 cases, with 9,569 related fatalities.

Authorities said 230 new Covid-19 patients were admitted to public hospitals, taking the total requiring inpatient care to 1,783.

Health officials revealed that a 27-month-old boy, who was unvaccinated, was sent to intensive care at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung after contracting Covid-19 and developing croup, a condition resulting from a viral infection of the upper airway that causes breathing difficulties.

The authority said the toddler was first admitted to Yan Chai Hospital early on Monday after falling ill and testing positive with a high viral load. It added that he was intubated because of breathing difficulties caused by a swollen windpipe.

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