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Coronavirus: Hong Kong records two new cases as public urged to avoid cemeteries for tomb-sweeping festival in bid to reduce risk of infection

  • Husband, 37, of coronavirus patient found to be infected, while 31-year-old man who had travelled overseas is the second confirmed case
  • Couple’s 18-month-old child also admitted to hospital with runny nose

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The Ching Ming Festival, when people visit the graves of ancestors, is highly important to Hongkongers. Photo: Dickson Lee
A Hong Kong health official has urged people to pay their respects to their ancestors via an online service during the Ching Ming Festival next month rather than have big crowds visiting grave sites for tomb sweeping and increasing coronavirus risks.
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That came as the city recorded two new confirmed coronavirus cases, health authorities announced late on Thursday, bringing the total tally in the city to 131.

One of the new cases is a 37-year-old man whose wife was previously confirmed to have the infection. The couple’s 18-month-old child has been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung with a runny nose.

The Centre for Health Protection’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan earlier said the family had returned from London on a Cathay Pacific flight on February 29.

Chuang said the man was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after his wife was confirmed infected with the virus and had developed a fever on March 3.

Authorities were looking for two taxi drivers who recently drove the couple, Chuang said. The family lives in the iPlace industrial building in Kwai Chung district.

The second new case is a 31-year-old man who has an underlying illness. He had been to Boston in the United States and the Philippine capital Manila during the incubation period.

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