CHP investigates 25 additional cases of COVID-19
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The cases are detailed below:
| Case no. | 169 | 170 | 171 | 172 | 173 |
| Age/ Sex | 34/Male | 36/Male | 27/Male | 28/Male | 55/ Male |
| Any underlying illness | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Yes |
| Onset date | March 16 | March 14 | March 17 | March 15 | March 17 |
| Symptoms | Fever | Fever | Fever | Sore throat, headache and cough | Fever |
| Residence | Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong in North Point | Block 2, Island Resort, Siu Sai Wan | Block 8, Saddle Ridge Garden, Sha Tin | Athletes' Hostel, Hong Kong Sports Institute, Sha Tin | Oi Wai House, Tsz Oi Court, Tsz Wan Shan |
| Hospital admitted (patient condition) | Ruttonjee Hospital (RH) (Stable) |
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hopsital (PYNEH) (Stable) |
Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH)(Stable) |
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (Stable) | Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) (Stable) |
| Travel history during incubation period & infectious period | February 4 to 29: Germany, February 29 to March 1: Spain, March 1 to 12: Germany |
March 3 to 12: Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland | March 12 to 14: London | February 19 to March 14: France and Austria |
March 4 to 14: Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and France |
| Condition of home contact(s) | Lives alone | Wife, two sons and two domestic helpers | Parents | Pending | Wife |
| Remarks | Under compulsory home quarantine |
| Case no. | 174 | 175 | 176 | 177 | 178 |
| Age/ Sex | 31/Male | 29/Male | 29/Female | 28/Female | 29/Male |
| Any underlying illness | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Onset date | March 9 | March 13 | March 15 | March 16 | March 16 |
| Symptoms | Fever | Sore throat and myalgia | Sore throat and headache | Sore throat | Cough, fever |
| Residence | Tower 3, Hampton Place, Tai Kok Tsui | Ying Lai House, Yau Lai Estate. | Ying Lai House, Yau Lai Estate. | Rich View Terrace, Sheung Wan | Rich View Terrace, Sheung Wan |
| Hospital admitted & condition | QEH(Stable) | United Christian Hospital (UCH) (Stable) |
UCH (Stable) |
Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) (Stable) |
QMH (Stable) |
| Travel history during incubation period & infectious period | February 28 to March 8: Switzerland |
March 2 to 5: Japan March 5 to 14: Thailand |
February 27 to March 5: Japan March 5 to 14: Thailand |
March 2 to 16: Spain , France and Germany |
March 2 to 5: Bangladesh March 7 to 16: Spain , France and Germany |
| Condition of home contact(s) | Wife | Girlfriend (Case 176) | Boyfriend (Case 175) | Husband (case 178) | Wife (Case 177) |
| Remarks | Had a meal gathering with case 162 | |
Tourist |
| Case no. | 179 | 180 | 181 | 182 | 183 |
| Age/ Sex | 63/Male | 38/Male | 63/Female | 50/Female | 24/Female |
| Any underlying illness | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Onset date | March 16 | March 16 | March 15 | March 11 | March 12 |
| Symptoms | Cough | Headache and stuffy nose | Myalgia, fever | Headache, sore throat, malaise | Sore throat and cough |
| Residence | Block 2, Le Sommet, North Point | Branksome Crest, 3A Tregunter Path, Mid-levels | Sakura Court, 58-60 Kennedy Road, Wan Chai | Tai Mong Tsai, Sai Kung | Seymour Place, 60 Robinson Road, Mid-levels |
| Hospital admitted (patient condition) | QMH (Stable) | Tseung Kwan O Hospital (stable) | Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH)(Stable) | UCH(Stable) | Yan Chai Hospital (Stable) |
| Travel history during incubation period & infectious period | March 12-16 : United States | February 27 to March 15: Malaysia and London |
February 29 to March 14: London | Nil | February 27 to March 8: London |
| Condition of home contact(s) | Wife |
Domestic helper | Husband and domestic helper | Three sons and girlfriend of one of the sons, and domestic helper | Parents and domestic helper |
| Remarks | Referred by Port Health Division |
| Case no. | 184 | 185 | 186 | 187 | 188 |
| Age/ Sex | 64/Female | 23/Male | 46/Female | 20/Female | 16/Male |
| Any underlying illness | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Onset date | March 12 | March 12 | March 2 | March 9 | March 11 |
| Symptoms | Fever | Fever and headache | Cough and sore throat | Cough with sputum | Cough with sputum |
| Residence | Block 47, Baguio Villa, 550 Victoria Road | 5 King Kwong Street, Happy Valley | Block 1, Island Resort | Studies in United Kingdom (UK) | Lives in UK |
| Hospital admitted (patient condition) | Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (Stable) |
RH (Stable) | RH (Stable) | PMH (Stable) | PMH (Stable) |
| Travel history during incubation period & infectious period | February 11 to 28: Dubai and Egypt March 5-12: Delhi, India |
Studies in UK | March 6 to 11: Spain | Studies in UK | Lives in UK |
| Condition of home contact(s) | Two domestic helpers and a private driver | Father | Husband | Pending | Father (Case 189) |
| Remarks | Referred by Port Health Division | Referred by Port Health Division |
| Case no. | 189 | 190 | 191 | 192 | 193 |
| Age/ Sex | 49/Male | 12/Male | 34/Female | 46/Female | 33/Female |
| Any underlying illness | Yes | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Onset date | March 12 | March 17 | March 16 | March 11 | March 11 |
| Symptoms | Cough and sore throat | Cough and headache | Fever and cough | Cough and runny nose | Cough and runny nose |
| Residence | Resides in UK | E Hotel Sham Shui Po | Phase 2, Sunshine City, Ma On Shan | Hang Yue Court, 2-14 Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei | Penta Hotel Tuen Mun |
| Hospital admitted (patient condition) | PMH (Stable) | Caritas Medical Centre (Stable) | PWH (Stable) | QEH (Stable) | UCH (Stable) |
| Travel history during incubation period & infectious period | Resides in UK | March 4 to 16: UK | Nil | Nil | March 7 to 16: UK and Spain |
| Condition of home contact(s) | Son (Case 188) | Mother | Parents and younger sister | Mother | Parents and younger brother |
| Remarks |
For information on flights that patients of the confirmed cases have taken, please refer to the following website: (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/flights_trains_en.pdf). Passengers who travelled in the same cabin of the same flights with patients of the confirmed cases are urged to call the CHP hotline.
The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. 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 the annex.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "In view of proliferation of the disease and continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
"Meanwhile, according to our epidemiological investigations, clusters are observed in the local community involving large meal gatherings and other gatherings. Members of the public are urged to go out less and reduce social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings, and maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."
The spokesman said, "The CHP strongly urges 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. On a 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.
"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); cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use; 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, relevant health authorities and the Hospital Authority.
The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. A new hotline (2125 1111) is newly added yesterday. The hotlines operate from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm yesterday, a total of 38 327 calls were received.
Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on the COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates.
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;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• 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.
Ends/Thursday, March 19, 2020
Issued at HKT 1:38
Issued at HKT 1:38
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