The officer subsequently tested positive for the new coronavirus, forcing the health workers to be put into quarantine.

A chief manager with the authority, Dr Sara Ho, said the medical staff were taking blood and carrying out an electrocardiography on the 22-year-old officer when they noticed she was not wearing a mask.

The staff, who are wearing surgical masks themselves, asked her to put one on, but she didn’t until all the procedures were completed.

At a daily news briefing on the Covid-19 outbreak, Ho said being as staff had spent more than 15 minutes in close proximity to the officer, it was deemed that they had been in close contact with her.

Ho urged all patients to follow the instructions of medical staff, saying otherwise, the risk to hospital workers will be increased, lead in turn to problems with the functioning of hospitals.

But she said most patients respect hospital staff and cooperate with them.

She said medical staff try their best to advise patients and appeal for their cooperation, adding that they can contact security guards and hospital management when necessary.

Health authorities said the policewoman had gone drinking at one of the bars that are now linked to dozens of coronavirus infections.