Hong Kong Many hotpot shops are empty or temporarily closed after 10 people became infected with the corona virus after a hotpot meal.

Hot pot is a favorite food in Hong Kong, but information about families infected with corona virus after eating hot pot together has led many people to remove it from the menu.

Sam Wong, 39, owner of the 66 hotpot restaurant in the crowded Mongkok neighborhood, said 20 customers had canceled the reservation, after learning about the 10th member of the infected family was announced on February 10. .

"I don't think the problem is just a hotpot dish because the Chinese have a habit of eating together. But the hotpot is directly related to my family's corona virus infection, my business is inevitably affected." Wong said.

Wong said he now has to measure the body temperature for guests to the shop, replace all chopsticks with disposable items and place carpets soaked in disinfectant solution at the entrance.

Emily Mok, the flight attendant, arrived at Wong's shop before opening hours of the evening and ordered hotpot to take home. "Me and my boyfriend will eat hot pot at home because we do not want to sit in the shop, where we do not know the person next to how," she said.

Many major restaurant chains in Hong Kong such as Fairwood, Cafe de Coral, Yoshinoya and Maxim simultaneously announced to suspend hotpot business after the family infected with corona virus. Maxim confirmed that two family members infected with the corona virus worked at their two branches so they will be closed for disinfection.

Haidilao's largest Chinese hotpot chain has closed its entire mainland branch. However, the company said it did not close its Hong Kong branch.

According to Hong Kong officials, the family of 19 people ate hotpot and barbecue at Lento restaurant, Kwun Tong area on January 19 to welcome the two members returning 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 corona virus infection. In the evening of the same day, the next 7 people in the house including father, mother, two aunts and three cousins of this young man gave similar results. As of February 10, an additional family member was confirmed positive for corona virus.

Pneumonia outbreaks occurred in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, then spread to 31 Chinese provinces and 26 countries and territories. At least 1,115 deaths and more than 45,100 infected people have been recorded globally.