Hong Kong patient infected with coronavirus dies, say authorities

Passengers wearing protective masks stand on a platform on the East Rail line, operated by MTR Corp., in Hong Kong, China, on Feb 3. - Photographer: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg

HONG KONG (AFP): A 39-year-old man in Hong Kong who was being treated for the novel coronavirus has died, medical authorities confirmed Tuesday (Feb 4).

This is the first fatality connected to the illness in the financial hub and only the second outside of mainland China.

A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said the victim was a resident of Hong Kong who travelled to the Chinese city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - on Jan 21 and who returned to the financial hub two days later. - AFP