A baby who was tested for the coronavirus at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry is understood to not have contracted the disease.
Test results were carried out as soon as the family arrived back from Hong Kong and the infant is awaiting the official all-clear.
The baby’s mother had contacted a doctor in Derry with concerns about a cough and was advised to take the child to hospital.
The NHS put its emergency protocol into action and the family was met in A&E by medical staff in protective clothing.
The Department of Health meanwhile has assured the public that it is ready to deal with the coronavirus here.
A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust said in a statement: “We do not comment on the individual treatment and care of our patients, for all information and guidance regarding the coronavirus please visit www.publichealth.hscni.net.”
In China meanwhile, there are concerns that the true death toll is not being reported. Leaked but unconfirmed figures online suggest that around 20,000 people may have died.
Wuhan has set up mobile cabin hospitals to receive #coronavirus patients with mild symptoms.
CGTN takes a look into one of such hospitals to see the conditions there. pic.twitter.com/0FK5QxaEp3
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) February 8, 2020
Japan and the United States have each said over the last hour that one their citizens died in Wuhan after being infected with the #coronavirus.
— Bhavan Jaipragas 八万 (@jbhavan) February 8, 2020
China's #coronavirus death toll rises to 722 with at least 34,546 people infected https://t.co/zrZFC7P4VK pic.twitter.com/sImAei2BPf
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 8, 2020