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One New Infection in Hong Kong

A 69-year-old retired man who lives in Hong Kong’s Tseung Kwan O has contracted COVID-19, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection.

The man, who already had diabetes and high blood pressure before being tested positive for the virus, had not traveled outside Hong Kong recently. He was hospitalized on Feb. 16.

The new case brings Hong Kong’s known cases of coronavirus to 58.

Chuang added that there are also two cases with preliminary test results showing that they have been infected. One is a 45-year-old man who is a coworker of the 69-year-old retired man.

Another case involves the wife of an infected patient.

China’s Legislative Meeting Could Be Delayed

The 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s rubber-stamp legislature, could delay its upcoming annual session that is scheduled for March 5, state-run media Xinhua reported on Monday.

The annual political meeting is one of the biggest held by the Chinese regime.

The standing committee of the NPC will hold its 16th bi-monthly session on Feb. 24 in Beijing. According to Xinhua, the committee is expected to consider postponing the annual session.

Public Events Canceled in Japan

A public birthday celebration for Japanese royal leader Naruhito on Feb. 23 has been canceled, Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported on Monday, citing the Imperial Household Agency.

Naruhito and his wife Masako and family were originally going to greet the pubic three times from a balcony of the Imperial Palace.

“We made the decision to cancel the public event at the palace, which is attended every year by many people in close proximity, after considering the risk of the virus spreading,” said Kenji Ikeda, vice grand steward of the agency.

Organizers of Tokyo Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors, have canceled entries from the general public for the sporting event scheduled on March 1, Tokyo Shimbun reported on Monday.

About 38,000 people from the general public were scheduled to take part in the marathon.

About 200 elite athletes are still scheduled to participate.

14 Americans Infected Leaving Japan

Fourteen U.S. citizens repatriated from Japan have tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 17.

The infected people were among over 300 U.S. citizens who were repatriated on Sunday from the cruise ship Diamond Princess, which is currently quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama.

“During the evacuation process, after passengers had disembarked the ship and initiated transport to the airport, U.S. officials received notice that 14 passengers, who had been tested 2-3 days earlier, had tested positive for COVID-19,” the statement said.

Their flights left Japan at about 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, and will land at either Travis Air Force Base in California or Joint Base San Antonio in Texas on Monday morning.

The 14 infected people were isolated from the rest of the passengers on the flights.

Passengers without any symptoms of the virus will be placed under quarantine for 14 days. The 14 infected passengers and others who develop symptoms while on the flight, will be transported to a location for continued isolation and treatment.

Japan’s Defense Minister Taro Kono tweeted on Monday that the Japan Self-Defense Forces helped transport 340 U.S. passengers on 14 buses from Yokohama to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

About 380 Americans were on the Diamond Princess.

Thailand, Japan, Philippines Report New Infections

One new case of COVID-19 has appeared in Thailand, after a 60-year-old Chinese woman tested positive for the novel coronavirus, local newspaper Bangkok Post reported on Monday, citing the local health ministry.

The woman is one of nine infected members in a Chinese family.

The new case brings Thailand’s total number of known cases to 35. Among them, 15 have recovered and returned home.

In Japan, a staff member at Sagamihara Chuo Hospital, located in the city of Sagamihara, has tested positive for the virus, local newspaper The Japan Times reported on Monday, citing an announcement by the hospital.

The staff member had been caring for the 80-year-old infected woman who died last week.

Currently, Japan has 61 known cases of the novel coronavirus.

Also in Japan, 16 more Filipinos abroad the cruise ship Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus, local newspaper Manila Bulletin reported on Monday, citing the country’s department of foreign affairs.

The 16 cases brings the total number of Filipino crew members infected to 27.

The number of confirmed cases inside the Philippines remains at 3, with one death.