The number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Hong Kong rose to 63 after another case was confirmed on Wednesday, and the death toll increased to two after one patient passed away on Wednesday morning, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported.
The newly confirmed case involves an 83-year-old female living in Hong Kong's Tuen Mun area. She had a fall on Feb. 15 and was then hospitalized for hip fracture operation. After her daughter and son-in-law were diagnosed as Hong Kong's 60th and 57th COVID-19 cases, she was tested for novel coronavirus and confirmed positive on Wednesday, Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch, said at a daily press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.
The patient had mild running nose on Feb. 14, but did not develop fever during her hospitalization. The CHP's investigation showed that her husband had been to the Chinese mainland before the Lunar New Year. The husband has also been tested for novel coronavirus and the results are pending.
Apart from the 63rd confirmed case, the preliminary test results of a couple also showed positive for novel coronavirus on Wednesday, Chuang said, adding that the couple, aged 68 and 70 respectively, live in Siu Sai Wan on the Hong Kong Island and have no history of travel during the incubation period.
Lau Ka-hin, chief manager of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, said at the briefing that a 70-year-old male patient passed away on Wednesday morning, becoming Hong Kong's second death case of COVID-19.
The patient had been previously confirmed as Hong Kong's 55th COVID-19 case and had been treated at the ICU in critical condition. With chronicle diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure, his condition deteriorated in the morning and was declared dead at around 7:22 a.m. local time.
Lau also reported an additional cured case. The patient was discharged on Wednesday, bringing the number of cured cases in Hong Kong to five.
