Cruise ship evacuee tests positive for virus in HK

Sources say one of the Diamond Princess passengers has tested positive for Covid-19 since flying back to Hong Kong to be quarantined at Chun Yeung Estate. Photo: RTHK

One of the passengers of the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship has tested positive for the illness after returning to Hong Kong, sources have told RTHK.



The patient, who had been in quarantine since flying back from Japan, is being treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.



Around 200 Hong Kong people who had been stuck on the boat docked at Yokohama have flown back to the SAR in the past few days, most of them on special evacuation flights arranged by the Hong Kong government.



They have been taken to a newly built housing estate in Fo Tan for another 14 days of quarantine.



While almost 70 Hong Kong passengers on the cruise are still in Japan after coming down with the virus, the latest reported infection is the first among those repatriated to the SAR.



Earlier, health officials said a 68-year-old man had been taken to hospital from the Chun Yeung Estate in Fo Tan after he developed a fever.



A nine-year-old boy who was being quarantined had also developed a fever on Friday, but has since tested negative for the coronavirus.