Officials: now 61 virus cases in Hong Kong

Hong Kong health authorities confirmed on Tuesday they have identified one new case of infection of the viral outbreak spreading across Asia.

The patient is a 32-year-old Filipino domestic helper living in Hong Kong.

The latest confirmed case brings the total number of people infected with the new strain of coronavirus in Hong Kong to 61.

Health authorities said they were looking to find those who have had been in close contact with the patient in recent days.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Hong Kong Health Department told a news conference that the helper was in the City Hall outdoor area where she met around ten friends.

She said that they did not have a meal together but health authorities were making efforts to contact all her friends to check.

Also speaking during the news conference, health official Dr Chui Tak-yi expanded on plans to evacuate and repatriate citizens from a quarantined cruise ship docked in the Japanese port city of Yokohama.

Chui gave assurances that citizens would receive virus tests and health checks before they boarded any planes bound for Hong Kong.

So far in Hong Kong there has been one death from the new strain of virus.

Fifty-eight patients are currently receiving treatment for infections of the virus, spread across ten public hospitals, health officials said.

Image Source: AP