People wearing protective face masks shop at a fresh food market in Hong Kong on Feb 9, 2020. (DALE DE LA REY / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong has recorded two more cases of novel coronavirus infection, including another participant of a family gathering in which nine others already had tested positive for infection.

As of Monday afternoon, the city’s total number of coronavirus-infected patients was 38. Meanwhile, Hong Kong police are searching for two people who violated the mandatory 14-day quarantine policy for mainland arrivals.

Two more cases were reported on Monday, including another participant of a family gathering in which nine others already had tested positive for infection

READ MORE: Quarantine violation in HK will attract 6 months in jail

At a news briefing on Monday, Chuang Shuk-kwan, the head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, said the 37th confirmed case is a 55-year-old female who joined the family gathering of 19 people on Jan 26. So far 10 out of the 19 people at the event have tested positive for the disease.

The 38th infection case is a 69-year-old male patient with chronic disease. Chuang said the man, who lives in Sai Wan Ho, had not left Hong Kong during the past two weeks. Chuang added that he is in critical condition. The patient’s wife and his mother-in-law previously tested positive for the coronavirus.

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Also at the briefing, Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan said two Hong Kong residents violating the quarantine policy are wanted by police.

According to a new government policy that took effect Saturday, all arrivals from the Chinese mainland, including Hong Kong residents and foreigners, must undergo two weeks of isolation.

Police spot checks revealed that nine people haven’t stayed at designated quarantine locations. Police have been able to find seven of the people.

Chan stressed that people who violate the quarantine face up to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$25,000 (US$3,200), and she urged all quarantined people to obey the law.