Wuhan coronavirus: Macau confirms first case as new disease looms over Hong Kong
- Detection doubts as the 52-year-old female patient passed through border checkpoints without showing symptoms
- Hong Kong looks increasingly vulnerable as virus takes hold over its borders to the north and west
Macau confirmed its first case of the new China coronavirus on Wednesday in a development highlighting the challenges of detection after the patient passed through health checkpoints without showing symptoms.
It has left Hong Kong looking increasingly vulnerable to the spread of the virus, with cases confirmed earlier in its neighbouring cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in mainland China.
There are 440 confirmed cases of the virus newly discovered in Wuhan, a city in central China. Nine people have died.
All casino staff and civil servants in the gambling hub have been ordered to wear face masks, although local officials said it was too early to say whether there was a risk of a community outbreak.
A 52-year-old Wuhan businesswoman was confirmed by Macau authorities on Wednesday as having the coronavirus.
She had a cough and sore throat about a week before arriving in Macau on Sunday night, the city’s secretary for social affairs and culture Ao Ieong-iu said.
