Public Hospital cuts down N95 mask supply, causing fear among medical staff for higher risk of Coronavirus infection
There are “invisible patients of Wuhan Pneumonia” in Hong Kong, yet the provision of protective gears in public hospitals has been shrinking.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is suspected of banning frontline staff from wearing N95 masks for colonoscopy and gastroscopy examination, causing deep concerns on the growing risks of infection.
Medics pointed out that the faeces of Wuhan pneumonia patients may carry coronavirus, coupled with the fact that in public hospitals, gastroscopy examination is conducted without anaesthetic. In any case, if an invisible patient coughs during the examination, conducting gastroscopy and colonoscopy without proper protective gear pose a high risk of infection.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital did not respond directly to the matter, only saying that public hospitals had developed guidelines for using masks.