Travelers enter the departure hall at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, Aug 15, 2019. (LUI SIU WAI / XINHUA)

Hong Kong health authorities have urged residents to consider delaying all non-essential foreign travel due to the spreading of the coronavirus globally, according to a statement published by the government on its website.

The government is also expanding health declaration at the airport to cover all flights, effective Sunday.

The government is expanding health declaration at the airport to cover all flights, effective Sunday

The city on Friday reported two cases of imported infections of the coronavirus, and one case of a close contact of a patient who recently traveled aboard.

The Department of Health on Friday night advised local people to put off unnecessary travel in light of the rapid spread around the globe of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The disease first reported on the Chinese mainland in December has spread to at least 85 countries and regions, with over 14,700 infections outside China. Hong Kong’s three newly confirmed infections brought the local tally to 107 after a hiatus on Thursday.

The husband of a 69-year-old patient, who visited India during the incubation period, tested positive. With no recent travel history, the 69-year-old man is asymptomatic with underlying medical conditions.

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An 85-year-old man, who also took the tour involving 21 people to India from Jan 31 to Feb 24, was confirmed to be infected. He lives in in Scenic Villas on Hong Kong Island and developed a cough before the diagnosis. 

Another new case involved a 56-year-old businessman of Indian origin, who lives at Po Shan Road in western Mid-Levels. He traveled to the United States and Mexico during the Feb 2-20 period, before visiting London and Paris between Feb 25 and Wednesday, when he took flight BA27 home. Before developing a fever on Wednesday, he also stayed at his office in the New East Ocean Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui during the Feb 20-25 period, and had dinner with clients and colleagues. 

The case is likely an imported one, but health authorities need more information to confirm this, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, told a daily press briefing. 

In view of the rising global links to new cases in Hong Kong, Under Secretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi told a press briefing that the government is closely monitoring global trend, and will adjust quarantine measures accordingly

Health authorities have been tracing close contacts of all new cases, especially the 69-year-old woman returning from India. She visited at least 12 locations in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island before being isolated — including two wedding banquets. 

An 80-year-old woman, who is believed to be one of the seven people who returned to Canada from the tour group to India, preliminarily tested positive for the virus. The SAR government is waiting for confirmation from Canadian authorities. 

In addition, a 43-year-old male patient in Thailand had visited a relative in Hong Kong for hours on Feb 29. He flew a round trip on flight CX250 and CX617 that day, before developing a fever on Monday. His relative has contacted the SAR government.

In view of the rising global links to new cases in Hong Kong, Under Secretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi told a press briefing that the government is closely monitoring global trend, and will adjust quarantine measures accordingly. 

He urged the public to check the government’s latest travel advice before leaving Hong Kong. 

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Leung Chi-chiu, a doctor who specializes in the respiratory system and chairs the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases under the Hong Kong Medical Association, said people should have comprehensive evaluations before visiting any countries or regions where there are infected cases, especially Europe, Asia and the US. 

As medical resources and disease prevention measures vary country from country, Leung warned that announced infections might not reflect the actual situation. 

Leung noted that the global increase in infections has recently surpassed China, at a speed of nearly 3,000 cases per day, while China reported less than 200 on Friday.

In another development, principal officials led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Friday sent a check of over HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million), the amount of the combined one-month salary of 44 political appointees, to the Community Chest of Hong Kong to help in the epidemic fight.

Contact the writers at heshusi@chinadailyhk.com