#14,892
The number of new cases being reported out of Hong Kong has slowed the past couple of days, but as we saw earlier today (see Hong Kong To Expand Testing For Novel Coronavirus), there are concerns that some community acquired cases are flying beneath the radar.
Of today's cases, one appears to be locally acquired - contact of a known case - while the other had recent travel to Zhongshan and Macao.
CHP investigates two 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 18), the CHP is investigating two additional cases of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 62 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong.
The first case involves a 32-year-old woman (the 61st case) who is the domestic helper of the 67-year-old female patient of the 52nd case confirmed on February 13. The patient has good past health who lives in Block D, Mount Parker Lodge in Quarry Bay. She developed fever and cough since February 2. Her symptoms subsided after self-medication and she did not consult a private doctor. She was transferred to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital where she was admitted for isolation and management by the CHP during its epidemiological investigation on February 14.
Her respiratory samples were initially tested negative for novel coronavirus. The patient has undergone further check-ups owing to persistent clinical symptoms and her respiratory samples were tested positive for novel coronavirus today. She is now in a stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. She also did not attend the family dinner of her employer held in North Point on January 26. Her close contacts (except the case 52), namely her employers and their kids, have already been arranged for quarantine earlier on.
The second case involves a 58-year-old man (the 62nd case) with good past health who lives alone in Cambridge Building, 25-41 Hong Ning Road, Kwun Tong. He developed fever and chills since February 11, and cough since February 15. He consulted the same private doctor on February 11 and 13 respectively. He sought medical attention at United Christian Hospital yesterday and was admitted for treatment. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus and he is now in a stable condition. The patient travelled to Zhongshan (from January 23 to February 2) and Macao (February 5) during the incubation period.
Relevant contract tracing by the CHP is ongoing.
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."(Continue . . . )
