Nurses warn equipment shortage risks cross-infection

The Hospital Authority says stocks of protective equipment are likely to fall quickly. File photo: AFP

The head of the main nurses union says a potential shortage of protective clothing could increase the chance of cross-infection of the Wuhan virus – now officially called Covid-19 – within hospitals.



Legislator and chairman of the Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff Joseph Lee said: "The Hospital Authority said there would be a very rapid drop in terms of stocks of PPE [protective personal equipment ] from three months to one month.



"And now the risk of a community outbreak is very high and the number of cases is rapidly increasing, and that means more patients will be isolated and more cases will be admitted."



He said: "With a shortage of PPE on the front line then we challenge the HA: how it can ensure cross-infection will not happen within hospital wards?"



The Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff says it won't be taking industrial action over the matter, but will ask members to call its hotline, when there's insufficient protection at their workplace.