Credit - HK Gov
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Roughly six hours after we saw Media Reports Of Hong Kong's 1st Imported Coronavirus, we finally have a statement from the CHP that indicates a recent arrival from Wuhan has tested positive - but they appear to be waiting - likely for a second confirmatory test before declaring it.
CHP investigates highly suspected imported case of novel coronavirus infection
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (January 22) investigating a highly suspected imported case of novel coronavirus infection. The public is again urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
The case involved a 39-year-old male who lives in Wuhan with good past health. He developed fever and blocked nose since yesterday (January 21). He travelled from Wuhan to Shenzhenbei (G1015 carriage No. 3, seat No. 10D) and then from Shenzhenbei to Hong Kong (G5607 carriage No. 2, seat No. 2D) by High-Speed Rail yesterday. Upon arrival at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the patient was detected to have fever by staff of DH's Port Health Division and was immediately taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for isolation and treatment. He was transferred to the Princess Margaret Hospital for further management today. The patient is now in stable condition.
The patient's respiratory samples were preliminarily tested positive for novel coronavirus.
The CHP has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. According to the patient, he neither visited any health care facilities, wet market or seafood market during the incubation period, nor had any exposure to wild animals or poultry or contact with patients with symptoms of pneumonia or upper respiratory tract infection.
Preliminary investigations revealed that he travelled with his wife, two sons and mother-in-law, who have remained asymptomatic so far and had already departed Hong Kong for the Philippines today.
Contact tracing by the CHP is ongoing. Passengers sitting on the same row or within two rows in front of or behind the patient will be regarded as close contacts while other passengers in the same carriage will be regarded as other contacts. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts.
The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for the case. Persons who took the high-speed train from Wuhan to Shenzhenbei (G1015, carriage no. 3) and from Shenzhenbei to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (G5607, carriage no. 2) on January 21 should call the hotline. The hotline operates from 8pm to midnight tonight and from 8am to 5.45pm from tomorrow (January 23) onwards to answer public enquiries.
The CHP has reported the case to the World Health Organization (WHO), National Health Commission (NHC), Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the health authority of the Philippines.
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