Credit - HK Gov
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As mentioned earlier today, there are media reports of a second imported novel coronavirus case in Hong Kong today. In the past hour or so, Hong Kong's CHP has posted the following statement.
CHP investigates the second highly suspected imported case of novel coronavirus infection
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (January 23) investigating the second 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 56-year-old male who is a Hong Kong resident with good past health. He travelled to Wuhan on January 10 and took the flight (Air China flight CA8279) from Wuhan to Shenzhen on January 19 and then returned to Hong Kong via Lo Wu Control Point by MTR on the same day by himself.
He developed fever since January 18 but reported to have no respiratory symptoms. The patient sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) at Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) on January 19 and hospitalisation was not required. He re-visited the PWH's A&ED for follow-up on January 21 and was admitted for isolation and management by the hospital as his fever did not subside. He is now in stable condition and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and management today.
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 the patient lives with his wife at Oceanaire in Ma On Shan. He travelled to Wuhan from January 10 to 19 to visit his parents. His parents and wife have remained asymptomatic so far. The patient also resided in Alva Hotel by Royal in Sha Tin on January 20.
Contact tracing by the CHP is ongoing and relevant authorities and management office have been advised to carry out cleansing and disinfection. Patient's wife, taxi drivers who drove the patient and passengers of the same flight who were sitting at the same row and two rows in front and behind will be regarded as close contacts. Other passengers in the same cabin will be regarded as other contacts. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. Investigation is ongoing.
The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for the case. Persons who took the flight CA8279 or taxi drivers who drove the patient (January 19, 5 pm from Heng On Estate to PWH and January 19, 11 pm from PWH to Oceanaire) should call the hotline. The hotline operates from 8am to 5.45pm from today 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 Macao.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "The CHP will continue to maintain its liaison with the NHC, the WHO and the relevant health authorities, and closely monitor the situation for risk assessment."
The spokesman advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to Wuhan of Hubei Province. If it is unavoidable to travel to Wuhan, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.(Continue . . . )
