The Hospital Authority (HA) announced on April 12 to update public hospital compassionate visiting arrangement for critical or end-of-life COVID-19 patients and the compassionate visiting requirement of visitors who recovered from COVID-19.

The HA understands the needs of family members to visit critical or end-of-life COVID-19 patients. After reviewing the infection control arrangement by expert panel, the HA decided to update the protocol concerned.

Upon the wish of family members, public hospitals will facilitate compassionate visits for critical or end-of-life COVID-19 patients as far as practicable. Visitors must provide a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours before the visit. If the visitor cannot arrange a test in advance, a rapid antigen test must be performed immediately after the visit with test result provided subsequently.

Visitors are required to study the information sheet concerned on compassionate visiting arrangement thoroughly and to strictly follow infection control measures given by healthcare staff, including performing hand hygiene and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment before the visit, and conducting a 7-day health surveillance after the visit. Visitors are also required to observe the requirement of "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code when entering public hospitals.

The arrangement of the compassionate visits for non COVID-19 patients or other special clinical reasons remains unchanged. Visitors must comply with relevant testing and vaccination requirements. 

The HA has also decided that visitors who recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months (starting from the 14th day after receiving confirmation of infection) will be exempted from both testing and vaccination requirements for compassionate visiting. Visitors are required to provide proof of infection and recovery to healthcare workers.

The HA appeals to members of the public to understand the limitations of visiting arrangement under the current epidemic situation. Hospitals will facilitate video visiting for patients as far as practicable.