(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Hospital Authority will resume the special visiting arrangement in eight infirmary hospitals on April 21.

The authority’s Chief Manager (Clinical Effectiveness & Technology Management) Dr Linda Yu told a press briefing this afternoon that each patient will be allocated a one-hour visiting session by one designated relative every week.

She said visitors are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result.

“For the relaxation of special visiting arrangements, the relatives of the patients can actually have two choices. They can either have COVID-19 nucleic acid tests within 72 hours before the scheduled visit, or for those who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine for at least 14 days, they can opt for rapid antigen tests within 24 hours.

“These measures are to ensure the risk of infection can be minimised for in-patients, our staff and also other visitors.”

Dr Yu added that visitors who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination for at least 14 days have to purchase the COVID-19 rapid antigen test and conduct it at home.

They have to take a photo of themselves being tested with the negative results and the time and date of the test and show the photo, the packing and product insert of the rapid antigen test kit and the vaccination record to the ward staff for checking before entering the ward.

For visits arranged under urgent circumstances, the visitor must provide a test result within two days after the visit.

Ward staff will begin contacting patients' families in the next few days to schedule visits.