People wearing face masks as a preventative measure against the novel coronavirus line up to purchase face masks from a makeshift stall in Hong Kong on Feb 5, 2020. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong on Friday confirmed three more cases of coronavirus infection, bringing the total tally to 56, according to the government in a daily briefing on the epidemic.

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Hospital Authority Chief Manager Sara Ho condemned an act of arson at the gate of the Mrs Wu York Yu General Out-patient Clinic, one of 18 designated facilities across Hong Kong to admit patients suspected to be infected by the new coronavirus

The patient of the 54th case is a 41-year-old female clerk, who is the cousin of the 53rd patient. Both of them attended a dinner on Jan 26 at a local restaurant with another 27 people, including 4 children. So far there are six confirmed cases among the people at the gathering.

The 55th case is a 70-year-old man living alone in Kwai Chung. He has been in serious condition since being sent to the hospital and is receiving intubation treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The latest case is a 61-year-old female cashier at a restaurant in Sheung Wan. Her husband was in Xinhui, Guangdong province from Jan 23 to 28 visiting their son who is showing no symptoms of infection.

At the daily press briefing, Hospital Authority Chief Manager Sara Ho condemned an act of arson at the gate of the Mrs Wu York Yu General Out-patient Clinic in Tsuen Wan on Friday morning.

That was the second time within one week the clinic was attacked. On Feb 8, radicals vandalized the clinic threw petrol bombs at its building.

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The clinic was one of 18 designated facilities across Hong Kong to admit patients suspected to be infected by the new coronavirus.

These repeated attacks posed serious threats to the safety of patients and hospital workers, Ho said. She urged radicals to stop such acts.

Kathy Zhang contributed to this report