Coronavirus: Muji branch closed for disinfection in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay after employee in contact with infected patient

A Japanese lifestyle chain store in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay has been closed for disinfection after one of its employees was found to have come in contact with a coronavirus patient.

The Muji branch in Lee Theatre in the busy shopping hub, which also has a cafe, has been closed since Wednesday.

“We have received a report that one of our staff came in contact with a patient infected with the novel coronavirus,” a notice posted on the store’s wall read.

The person has been put under quarantine, but it was not immediately clear whether other employees have also been asked to do the same.

The notice said the shop would reopen on Monday.

The closure comes after boutique fashion outlet Fendi in Times Square, right across the street from Lee Theatre, was also closed for disinfection on Wednesday after the sister of one of its employees was diagnosed with the dreaded virus.

The news spread fast across online platforms, prompting the mall management to request the Italian fashion house to send all its employees to self-quarantine. The mall has also stepped up sanitation measures on its premises.

Hong Kong has had 26 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan in mainland China. One patient has died in the city. Globally, the virus has infected nearly 35,000 people, most of them being on the mainland, while more than 700 have died.

The Centre for Health Protection on Saturday said 21 patients were in stable condition, three critical and requiring breathing support, while one was in serious condition but could still breathe on his own.