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Saturday, February 22, 2020, 21:39
Coronavirus: HK govt expands definition of 'close contact'
By Shadow Li
Saturday, February 22, 2020, 21:39 By Shadow Li

Chuang Shuk-kwan (left), head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, and Lau Ka-hin, director of the Hospital Authority, attend a daily news conference on Feb 9, 2020. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - The government announced on Saturday that it would amend its definition of close contact of the novel coronavirus infected patients to those who have been in contact with the patients two days before symptom onset. The move came after a same change was adopted by the national health authorities.

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On Saturday, a 96-year-old woman was  tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the city's latest patient

As of Saturday, 11 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery from the disease, said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, at a daily press briefing.

Meanwhile, a 96-year-old woman was tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Saturday, becoming the city's latest patient. The department said she had visited a private temple in North Point, possibly the same temple the 65th patient had visited for a few times earlier.

The woman developed cough and fever on Feb 13. She sought medical help at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on Saturday morning. The woman, who lives in Tin Hau with her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, had not recently traveled outside the city. 

The temple was run by volunteers and did not keep any record of attendants, making it difficult for the authorities to track visitors, Chuang said.

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The Department of Health urged those who have visited the temple Fook Wai Ching She since Jan 25 to contact the authorities.

Meanwhile, four police officers who developed symptoms after attending a dinner gathering with an infected officer were all tested negative. They will still be placed under quarantine for 14 days as a precaution. 

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