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A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (March 30) provided an update on the suspected case of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus.
Preliminary laboratory test results for the respiratory specimens of the 55-year-old man today showed negative for Novel Coronavirus associated with Severe Respiratory Disease.
The 55-year-old man, with chronic illness, travelled with his wife to Italy from March 18 to 26. The man presented with fever and upper respiratory symptoms on March 28. He was admitted to United Christian Hospital for isolation and treatment yesterday (March 29). His current condition is stable. His wife is asymptomatic.
"The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH will continue its surveillance mechanism with public and private hospitals, practising doctors and the airport for any suspected cases of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus," a DH spokesman remarked.
"No human infection with this virus has been identified so far in Hong Kong," the spokesman stressed.
"We would like to reassure the public that the Government will be as transparent as possible in the dissemination of information on cases of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus. Whenever there is a suspected case, particularly involving patients with travel history to the Middle East and the affected areas, the CHP will release information to the public as soon as possible." the spokesman added.
The spokesman advised travellers returning from Novel Coronavirus-affected countries with respiratory symptoms to wear face masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors.
The spokesman reminded members of the public to pay attention to personal hygiene, especially wash hands:
* Before touching the eyes, nose and mouth;
* Before eating or handling food;
* After using the toilets; and
* After sneezing or coughing and cleaning the nose.
For more information on personal hygiene, members of the public may visit the CHP's website:
www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/19899.html .
Ends/Saturday, March 30, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:04
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