Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Matthew Cheung (C) speaks at a press conference in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 23, 2020. Hong Kong confirmed two cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia on Thursday for the first time after the infectious disease broke out in central China's Wuhan city. Matthew Cheung announced strengthened control measures in the high-speed railway station at a press conference in the evening. Cheung said the health declaration form system currently imposed on inbound travelers by air from Wuhan will be expanded to railway passengers, and the railway operator will improve cleansing and disinfection for trains arriving in Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
HONG KONG, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong confirmed two cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia on Thursday for the first time after the infectious disease broke out in central China's Wuhan city.
Two highly-suspected cases proved to have the new virus after the latest test that involved gene sequencing, according to the Department of Health (DH) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.
One of the patients, 39, a Wuhan resident, arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday evening, presenting with fever at the high-speed railway station. The other, a 56-year-old local resident, traveled to Wuhan from Jan. 10 to 19 and developed fever since Jan. 18.
Both patients were under isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital.
Hong Kong authorities have traced 12 close contacts of the two patients, with one classified as a suspected case. There were also 63 other contacts, with six classified as suspected cases.
Acting Chief Executive of the HKSAR Matthew Cheung announced strengthened control measures in the high-speed railway station at a press conference in the evening.
Cheung said the health declaration form system currently imposed on inbound travelers by air from Wuhan will be expanded to railway passengers, and the railway operator will improve cleansing and disinfection for trains arriving in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong will also cancel two festive events -- the Carnival from Saturday to Tuesday and the Lunar New Year Cup on Sunday -- to curb the spread of the new virus, Cheung added.
The Centre for Health Protection of the DH had received reports of a total of 176 suspected cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia as of Thursday noon. Of all, 109 reported cases have been ruled out and discharged from the hospital.
Two holiday camps under the management of the government were designated for the isolation of suspected cases, with one already put into use. The government will hold press conferences on the novel coronavirus pneumonia every day for information updates.
MTR Corporation has stopped selling high-speed train tickets to and from Wuhan. Cathay Dragon also announced the suspension of all flights between Hong Kong and Wuhan from Friday to Feb. 29.
