Virus infected insurance agent continued to go to work

A 43-year-old insurance agent who was confirmed to be infected with the Wuhan coronavirus, continued to go to work despite showing symptoms, a health official said today.

Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection, said the man consulted private doctors and yet “went to work as usual before he was hospitalized.''

While he worked in the office most of the time, he “went out to meet three clients after onset of symptoms.”

Now, more than 10 of his colleagues are being quarantined.

Chuang appealed to residents that they avoid gatherings, considering the local infections between people at gatherings or meals during the Lunar New Year holiday.

The insurance agent lives in Tse Tin Tsuen in Tuen Mun and works in Nathan Commercial Building in Yau Ma Tei.

He has had a meal with 12 other relatives. Among them was the 47th patient, a 66-year-old man, on January 30 at his home.

He experienced coughing on January 29 and suffered diarrhea the next day. On January 31, he visited a private doctor, and again on February 5 and February 8. He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on Wednesday and was confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus infection today.