Hong Kong sees second death as coronavirus claims 70-year-old

The Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong is pictured in this March 12, 2018 photo. INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR via China Daily/Asia News Network

HONG KONG — Hong Kong reported its second loss of life caused by a novel coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the city’s fatality tally to two.

According to the Hospital Authority, a 70-year-old man died in Princess Margaret Hospital. The man, who lived alone in Kwai Ching Shek Lei II, was believed to have visited the Chinese mainland via Lok Ma Chau checkpoint on Jan 22.

Health authorities were unable to ascertain the source of infection and believed that he likely contracted the virus locally.

By the end of Tuesday, 62 confirmed cases, including one death, had been reported in the Hong Kong and four patients had been discharged after recovery.

In addition to those cases, 52 Hong Kong residents have tested positive for the coronavirus on the cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan. There are 352 Hong Kong residents on the ship, operated by Carnival Corp.

Speaking in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday that more than 200 Hong Kong residents of total 352 stranded aboard Diamond Princess had indicated they would fly home via two chartered flights.

A third chartered flight to Japan was being considered, he said.

The government was trying to convince the rest to board the flights, he said. Those coming back would be required to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival.

The HK administration is urging Japanese authorities to give priority to Hong Kong residents so that they can fly home as early as Wednesday, Lee said.

The ship has been quarantined in the port of Yokohama since Feb 3 after a man, who disembarked in Hong Kong before it traveled to Japan, was diagnosed with the virus.