The maximum capacity for general medical wards in public hospitals has been reached and exceeded, including about 30 percent of Covid-19 patients.

So far, there are about 2,100 patients admitted to hospital because of Covid.

Simon Tang Yiu-hang, the HA’s director for cluster services, said the demand for hospital wards has been surging as the number of the Covid and flu patients continues to climb, and many of them require hospitalization.

Tang believed the number of flu patients has peaked but expected the city to see more and more Covid patients in the coming weeks.

The waiting time for non-urgent and semi-urgent patients will be longer, Tang noted, calling on citizens to understand relevant arrangements.

He also appealed to patients with mild symptoms to seek medical attention from general outpatient services or private clinics to alleviate the pressure of public emergency rooms.

Admitted patients whose condition becomes stable will also be transferred to the emergency room or discharged, Tang added, so as to minimize the hospital’s intake.