Some patients who recovered from the novel coronavirus may have damaged lungs, according to authorities in Hong Kong.

After scanning nine infected patients, doctors in the city said they found patterns similar to frosted glass, suggesting there was organ damage.

The findings - reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP) - were released by Hong Kong's Hospital Authority yesterday. There have been 131 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the city, and 74 patients have been discharged.

Dr Owen Tsang Tak-yin, medical director of the Infectious Disease Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital, told SCMP in a media briefing that out of around a dozen discharged patients seen by doctors, two to three could not do things as they had in the past - for example, gasping if they walked too quickly.

Follow today's live updates on coronavirus in Hertfordshire

These patients will be tested to determine how much lung function they still had.

The doctor said researchers still do not know the long-term effect on recovered patients.

As of 9am yesterday, the UK has recorded 590 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases and ten deaths linked to the virus. In Hertfordshire, there are 18 confirmed cases.

An elderly coronavirus patient with underlying health conditions, named online as Manohar Krishna Prabhu, died at Watford General Hospital on Monday evening after testing positive for Covid-19. It is understood that he was a member of the congregation at Bhaktidevanta Manor in Letchmore Heath.

The University of Hertfordshire announced last night a student tested positive. And on Wednesday evening, the East of England Ambulance Service said one of its paramedics, who lives in Hertfordshire, tested positive.

The government is moving on to the 'delay' stage of battling the coronavirus. This means that anyone experiencing a cough or fever is advised to self-isolate for seven days.

Authorities however have not advised schools to close or major events to be cancelled.

In a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that 'up to 10,000 people across the UK could already be infected'.

The Premier League is also holding an emergency meeting this morning after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.