Daily coronavirus tally for Hong Kong rises to 9, with all members of an Egypt tour now confirmed as infected, along with a Cathay Pacific flight attendant

New cases on Wednesday, including a first for the Hong Kong aviation industry, bring city’s infected total to 129

All of those on a tour to Egypt have now been officially diagnosed with the deadly virus

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A flight attendant for Cathay Pacific was among the Covid-19 cases confirmed by Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday. Photo: Felix Wong

Phila Siu,Kanis Leung,Victor Ting,Lilian ChengandElizabeth Cheung

Published: 12:09pm, 11 Mar 2020Updated: 11:53pm, 11 Mar 2020

A Cathay Pacific flight attendant and six more members of a tour group that recently visited Egypt were among the nine new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, taking the city total to 129.

A government announcement late on Wednesday confirmed that all eight travellers from the tour group, together with the guide, had been infected with the deadly coronavirus, as the health authorities scrambled to trace those in close contact with them.

The number of infection cases worldwide has surpassed 118,200, with Italy the worst-hit country outside of China, as governments across the world imposed stringent travel restrictions to reduce the risk of contagion.

The reaction has triggered a wave of cancellations of tours to Europe from major travel agencies in Hong Kong, affecting hundreds of holidaymakers.

The 22-year-old infected Cathay flight attendant, who returned to the city on flight CX320 from Madrid on March 8, is the first confirmed case in the aviation industry in Hong Kong.

“She served more than 10 or 20 rows [of passengers], in certain sections of the cabin. We will trace passengers she has served during the flight and those who worked closely with her,” said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.

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