Hong Kong seeks private hospital help with Covid patients

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong authorities are liaising with private hospitals to make space for Covid patients as the city battles its worst wave yet of the virus. The government is sending more government hospital patients who are being treated for ailments other than Covid-19 to private facilities if they are in a stable condition and in recovery, to free up beds in the public system, health officials said at a press briefing on Sunday (Mar 6).

"We will continue to be in touch with private hospitals to reduce pressure on public hospitals," said Larry Lee, chief manager of the Hospital Authority.

The city's health system and morgues are under the pressure from a record outbreak that has pushed its death rate to one of the highest in the world.

Hong Kong reported 31,008 Covid cases and 153 deaths Sunday. Although reported infection counts were less than 40,000 for the second straight day, after rising to more than 50,000 in the three days prior, officials said the decline could be due to unreported rapid testing results and because of the "weekend effect". BLOOMBERG