Hong Kong confirms 22nd case of coronavirus in semi-autonomous region

Health authorities in Hong Kong on Thursday confirmed the 22nd case of the new virus in the semi-autonomous territory.

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, Head of the Communicable Disease Branch at Hong Kong's department of Health said the patient was a 55-year-old woman, who was the wife of a man who was confirmed as the 21st case on Wednesday.

Chuang Shuk-kwan added that the government would be monitoring the condition of passengers on board a cruise ship docked in Hong Kong which was ensnared with the virus.

More than 3,000 passengers and crew on the Hong Kong ship, the World Dream, were being screened after three passengers on a previous voyage were diagnosed with the virus.

Hong Kong authorities also said they were trying to track down people who had been on the ship's recent trips.

Another ship, currently docked in Japan, has been affected by the virus, with several passengers in quarantine.