Hong Kong9 family members became infected with the corona virus after taking two members back from the mainland and out for hotpot and barbecue, bringing the number of infections in the special zone to 36.

Hong Kong authorities yesterday confirmed 10 new cases positive for the new strain of coronavirus (nCoV) causing acute pneumonia, including nine people from the same home. The 19-member family ate hotpot and barbecue together at the Lento restaurant in Kwun Tong on January 19 to welcome the two members back from mainland China.

On the morning of 9/2, a 24-year-old young man in his family and his 90-year-old grandmother with cancer were identified with nCoV. That same night, the next 7 people in the house, including the father, mother, two aunts and three cousins of this patient, gave the same result. They are between the ages of 22 and 68.

Two family members who returned from mainland China came to health facilities for tests. One is identified as negative with nCoV, the other is awaiting results.

After this result, the Lento restaurant at Wing Hing building at 14, Hing Yip Street announced the suspension and refund for customers who have already booked. Hong Kong Health Protection Center officials came to the restaurant yesterday to collect samples. All restaurant staff are required to isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

"I suggest that people refrain from gathering like this," said Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Hong Kong Center for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, asking people not to share them. Chopsticks when eating together.

Infectious disease expert Joseph Tsang Kay-yan warned that the infection among family members would continue to increase as Hong Kong did not close its border gates to the mainland as strictly as Macau.

The remaining new case is a 70-year-old man who has never left Hong Kong since 9 January and spends most of his time at home.

Ten new infections have brought the total number of nCoV infections in the special zone to 36. A 39-year-old man died in Hong Kong hospital on the morning of February 4, becoming the second patient to die of corona virus outside of mainland China. .

Hong Kong health officials said they had "major difficulties" in detecting carriers of the virus because some people had only mild flu-like manifestations at an early stage.

The special zone authorities closed 10 out of 13 border gates with mainland China and refused to accept customs clearance from the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began. Starting from February 8, Hong Kong imposed a two-week quarantine mandatory for anyone from mainland China.

Those who violate the regulations face up to 6 months in prison. Officials hope the new measures will help stop the pneumonia epidemic caused by nCoV. The disease has spread to 26 countries and territories, causing 910 deaths and more than 40,500 infections.

Yesterday, about 3,600 passengers and crew members isolated on the World Dream yacht in Hong Kong were disembarked after quarantine measures were completed. All 1,800 crew members, who had the ability to contact eight passengers infected with nCoV from a previous trip, were identified as virus-negative.

Countries with nCoV pneumonia patients. Click on image to see details.