#14,861
Hong Kong's CHP describes 3 more locally acquired COVID-19 cases, bringing the city's total to 53 cases, 40 of which appear to be locally acquired.
CHP investigates three additional cases of novel coronavirus infection
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (February 13), the CHP is investigating three additional case of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 53 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong.
One case involves a 43-year-old man (the 51st case) who is a relative of the 66-year-old male patient of the 47th case confirmed on February 11. The patient has good past health and lives in Tsz Tin Tsuen, Tuen Mun. He developed cough since January 29, and diarrheoa and vomiting since Janaury 31. He consulted two private doctors during January 31 to February 8. The patient sought medical attention at Tuen Mun Hospital on February 12 and was admitted for management. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus and he is now in a stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. He had attended a family banquet on January 30 where the patient of the 47th case was also present.
The other two cases involve a 67-year-old woman (the 52nd case) and her 37-year-old son (the 53rd case). They both had dinner with the patients of three confirmed cases (the 46th, 48th and 49th case) at Star Seafood Restaurant in North Point on January 26 evening.
The 67-year-old female patient, who is the younger sister-in-law of the 75-year-old male patient of the 46th case, has good past health. She lives at Mount Parker Lodge in Quarry Bay on weekdays and stays with her son at Heung Hoi Mansion on 28-32 O’Brien Road in Wan Chai on weekends. She developed cough on January 31 and then fever and chills since February 1. She consulted private doctors on January 31, February 3 and 7. She then sought treatment from Ruttonjee Hospital on February 12 where she was admitted for treatment. Her respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus and she is now in a stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. Her close contacts, namely her daughter, son-in-law, grandson, granddaughter and domestic helper, are all asymptomatic and will be arranged for quarantine.
The 37-year-old male patient, with good past health, lives at Heung Hoi Mansion. He developed fever on February 8 and consulted a private doctor on February 9. He sought treatment from Ruttonjee Hospital on February 12 and was admitted for treatment. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus and he is now in a stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, some of the confirmed cases are locally infected. The CHP strongly urged the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community."
The spokesman said, "On the personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes. The public should go out less and reduce social activities, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."
"As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps); after using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province and Health Bureau of Macao.
The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. The CHP is also closely monitoring and following up on the contact tracing of relevant confirmed cases in the Mainland and overseas. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see annex.
