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CHP investigates three additional imported cases of novel coronavirus infection
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has been investigating three additional imported cases of novel coronavirus infection since yesterday (January 24). The public is again urged to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.
 
     The first case involved a 62-year-old female who lives in Wuhan, Hubei Province with good past health. According to the information she provided, she travelled from Wuhan to Shenzhenbei (G1013) and then from Shenzhenbei to Hong Kong (G6543) by High-Speed Rail on January 19. She developed fever and cough on January 20. She sought medical treatment at Tuen Mun Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department on January 23 and was admitted for isolation yesterday (January 24). She is now in stable condition. Her respiratory samples were tested positive for novel coronavirus.
 
     The CHP has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. According to the patient, she had visited a wet market in Wuhan and a relative with cough in a hospital there during the incubation period, but had no exposure to wild animals. Preliminary investigations revealed that she came to Hong Kong together with her husband to visit their daughter and son-in-law and stayed at South Hillcrest in Tuen Mun. Her husband, daughter and son-in-law are asymptomatic and will be transferred to Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine.
 
     The other two cases involve a couple from Wuhan, who are a 62-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man with good past health. According to the information they provided, they took High-Speed Rail from Wuhan at 2.20pm on January 22 and arrived at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link at around 8pm that evening. The woman developed fever on January 23 while her husband developed cough on the same day and then fever on January 24. The couple attended the Prince of Wales Hospital’s A&E Department on January 23 and were admitted for isolation. They are in stable condition. The respiratory samples of both patients were tested positive for novel coronavirus.
 
     According to the patients, they 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 couple stayed at Lake Silver in Ma On Shan with their daughter and a domestic helper. Their daughter developed fever since January 23 and will be transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital for isolation. The domestic helper is asymptomatic and will be transferred to Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine.
 
     The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for the cases, which operates from 8am to 9pm daily to answer public enquiries. As at 4pm yesterday (January 24), a total of 221 calls were received.
 
     Meanwhile, the CHP is closely monitoring an overseas confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection involving a patient who boarded the flight KA853 on 19 January 2020 from Wuhan to Hong Kong for transit and departed on CX500 on the same day after onset of symptoms. Members of the public who had travelled in these two flights are urged to call the hotline.
 
     The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing of the five confirmed imported cases in Hong Kong. As at 10pm yesterday, the progress on the contact tracing of cases is as below:
 
  Close Contact Other contact
1st case (39-year-old male patient) 3 persons
 
2 of them are staying at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine. 1 other contact has developed relevant symptoms and is regarded as a suspected case who has been taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and management.
49 persons
 
6 of them have developed relevant symptoms and were regarded as suspected cases. The laboratory results of all of them were confirmed negative for novel coronavirus.
 
The remaining 43 asymptomatic contacts are under medical surveillance.
2nd case (56-year-old male patient) 4 persons
 
Among them, 3 close contacts are staying at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine. Another close contact has been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital before the quarantine centre is set up and will be transferred to quarantine centre when appropriate.
21 persons
 
All contacts are asymptomatic and under medical surveillance.
 
3rd case (62-year-old female patient) 3 persons
 
All contacts are asymptomatic. They will be transferred to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine. 
Nil
4th and 5th case (62-year-old female patient and 63-year-old male patient) 2 persons
 
1 close contact has developed relevant symptoms and will be transferred to the Prince of Wales Hospital for isolation and management. Another close contact is asymptomatic and will be transferred to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine.
3 persons
 
All contacts are asymptomatic and under medical surveillance.

 
 
     Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. The Lady MacLehose Holiday Village under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has been converted as quarantine centre and close contacts would be transferred to the village for quarantine.
 
     A dedicated webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html) has been set up by the CHP to provide relevant information and health advice on Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent. Information of the latest notifications received from the Mainland and overseas will be updated to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf) daily at 9am and 6pm to help the public grasp information on the affected countries/areas.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "The CHP will continue to maintain its liaison with the National Health Commission, the World Health Organization and the relevant health authorities, and closely monitor the situation for risk assessment."
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
 
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.
 
     The public should take heed of the health advice below when travelling outside Hong Kong:
 
•Do not travel to places with community transmission of novel coronavirus. If it is unavoidable to travel to such places, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong;
•Avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms in countries/areas with possible community transmission of novel coronavirus infection. If it is unavoidable to come into contact with them, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong;
• Avoid visiting hospitals. If it is necessary to visit a hospital, put on a surgical mask and observe strict personal and hand hygiene;
• Avoid touching animals (including game), poultry/birds or their droppings;
• Avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms;
• Avoid making close contact with patients, especially those with symptoms of acute respiratory infections;
• Do not consume game meat and do not patronise food premises where game meat is served;
• Adhere to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding consuming raw or undercooked animal products, including milk, eggs and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or contaminated products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
• If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing a fever or cough, wear a surgical mask, inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once; and
• After returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of any recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.
 
 
Ends/Saturday, January 25, 2020
Issued at HKT 1:04
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