This photo dated Jan 22, 2020 shows an exterior view of the Conde Sao Januario Hospital in Macao after the special administrative region reported its first case of the novel coronavirus that originated from Wuhan. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The patient of the first confirmed case of coronavirus infection in Macao was also the first to have recovered from the illness. 

The 52-year-old female tourist from Wuhan said that visiting Macao was the best thing that could have happened to her in what was considered her worst ordeal

In a letter of thanks posted on Macao’s Government Information Bureau website, the 52-year-old female tourist from Wuhan said that visiting Macao was the best thing that could have happened to her in what was considered her worst ordeal. 

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She said she was particularly grateful to the medical team in Conde S. Januário Hospital of Macao, who had been treating her like family.

She called on the public to stop panicking about the epidemic. “It’s curable,” she said. “It’s my personal feeling.”

She was tested positive on Jan 21, the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection in Macao.

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The Macao government on Thursday announced that after treatment at the hospital for half a month, the woman was tested negative to the virus twice and was given clean bill of health on discharge from hospital. 

She left Macao in the afternoon, escorted by the local police. 

Macao has recorded 10 confirmed cases so far.