A patient care assistant at Prince of Wales Hospital has tested preliminary positive for COVID-19, the Hospital Authority announced today.

The assistant works in the Staff Clinic. She developed a fever on January 20 and attended the clinic yesterday.

She was arranged to undergo a deep throat saliva test and her test result came back preliminary positive for the virus. She will be admitted to the Community Treatment Facility.

The assistant wore appropriate personal protective equipment during work and her last day on duty was January 20. No patient was identified as a close contact.

Three staff members she had meals with were identified as close contacts and will be quarantined.

The assistant had also attended staff training at Shatin Hospital on January 19. All training participants had been wearing surgical masks.

As a precautionary measure, virus tests will be arranged for the training participants and those working at the Staff Clinic.

The Staff Clinic was temporarily closed for thorough cleaning and disinfection this morning.