Coronavirus: 17 new infections confirmed in Hong Kong with 20 more people testing positive
- 20-month-old child among 37 people revealed on Saturday as either confirmed as infected or testing initially positive
- Most of the newly confirmed patients have travel history, as confirmed city total rises to 273
Hong Kong recorded 17 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, with 20 more people testing positive, including a 20-month-old child.
Ten of the 17 confirmed patients – which take the city total to 273 – have travel history to countries including US, Canada, Peru, Bolivia and Singapore.
The new cases were revealed after health experts warned of a surge in imported and community-spread infections, as Hongkongers returned home from abroad amid the global pandemic.
Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said the total could rise later in the day with 20 people also initially testing positive.
In the regular coronavirus press conference on Saturday, Chuang said the toddler and a total of six students were among the 37 newly confirmed as infected or testing preliminarily positive.
The 20-month-old child was among a group who had attended a wedding in March 14. The toddler’s parents and the groom have been infected.
Three more people who visited Canada and Bolivia on a tour were also confirmed, taking the total number of those infected in the group to five. Two other participants have tested initially positive.