By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported  investigating three additional cases of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 18 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong.

Image/CDC

A spokesman for the CHP said, “According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, the three additional confirmed cases will be classified as local infection cases. 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 first additional case involves a 64-year-old woman with good past health. She lives in Celestial Heights, Sheung Shing Street, Kowloon. She presented with cough since January 23 and consulted a private doctor. She then developed fever on January 30 and consulted another private doctor. She had shortness of breath on February 1 and sought treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) where she was admitted for management. The patient was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital for further management on February 3. Her respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. She is now in critical condition.

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The CHP has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. According to the information from patient’s son, she had no travel history during the incubation period and mainly travelled between her home and her shop in Prudential Centre in Jordan. Her household contacts, namely her son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and a domestic helper, are asymptomatic and will be sent to a quarantine centre for quarantine.

Those who had visited the patient’s shop named “Fresh Up” in Prudential Centre from January 23 to February 1, and the taxi driver who had driven the patient and her son from their home to QEH at around 11am on February 1 are urged to call the CHP hotline.

The second case involves a 60-year-old man with underlying illness who resides in Yue Hong House, Hong Tin Court in Lam Tin. He developed fever and myalgia on January 22, and presented with shortness of breath since January 30. He first attended United Christian Hospital (UCH) on January 30 and then sought medical treatment at Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) where he was admitted for treatment on the same day. Between onset and admission to TKOH, the patient had also consulted four different private practitioners. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. He is now in a stable condition.

According to the patient’s information, he had no travel history during the incubation period and mainly stayed home. His home contacts, namely his wife and daughter, are symptomatic and have been sent to UCH for further management.

The third case involves a 25-year-old man with good past health who lives at 183 Ma Tau Wai Road, To Kwa Wan. He developed fever on January 28. He presented with cough, runny nose and diarrhoea on January 29 and attended Hong Kong Baptist Hospital on the same day. He sought treatment at Hong Kong Baptist Hospital on February 3 and was referred to the Prince of Wales Hospital where he was admitted for treatment. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. He is now in a stable condition.

According to the patient’s information, he had no travel history during the incubation period. His wife is asymptomatic and will be sent to a quarantine centre for quarantine.

The taxi driver who drove the patient from Hong Kong Baptist Hospital to the Prince of Wales Hospital at around 2pm on February 3 is urged to call the CHP hotline.

In an update on mainland China cases, on February 4th, 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported 3887 new confirmed cases (3156 cases in Hubei Province). 431 new cases of severe cases (377 cases in Hubei Province) and 65 death cases (65 cases in Hubei Province) were reported.

The National Health and Health Commission has received a total of 24,324 confirmed cases (1 case reduced in Hainan Province) of 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. There are 3,219 severe cases with cumulative deaths at 490 cases.