Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (1st right) speaks at a news conference held at the government headquarters, Hong Kong on Jan 31, 2020. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Primary and secondary schools and preschools in Hong Kong will remain closed until March 2 while civil servants will be allowed to work from home until Feb 9, the city’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced on Friday.

The new arrangements are among an additional round of measures announced by the government hours after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

As of Friday morning, Hong Kong has confirmed 12 cases of novel coronavirus infection

ALSO READ: Hong Kong universities suspend on-campus classes

Lam said that the SAR government and educational authorities would continue to monitor the situation and assess whether it is safe to resume classes on March 2.

She said that heads of various government departments should make work arrangements in a flexible manner while guaranteeing basic public services to local residents.

The government also announced that local residents who had been to Hubei province in the past 14 days would be placed in a quarantine center for observation even if they are asymptomatic. Hubei’s capital, Wuhan, is the epicenter of the epidemic.

As of Friday morning, Hong Kong has confirmed 12 cases of novel coronavirus infection.

When asked if the government would consider locking down the city, Lam said such a move would run contrary to the WHO’s recommendations. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday stressed that the organization disfavored or even opposed imposing travel or trade restrictions on China.

But Lam said inbound travelers would be required to submit a health declaration form at Lo Wo Port and Shenzhen Bay Port starting from Saturday.

READ MORE: HK suspends transport links to contain coronavirus spread

As of 1 pm Friday, 48 Hubei visitors who had recently visited Hong Kong were identified. Fifteen of them had left the city, while the remaining 33 have been put in quarantine. 

Lam also said 200 electronic devices would be used to track those who have been asked to quarantine themselves at home.

In response to the soaring demand for face masks, Lam assured residents that the shortage will be eased soon. Edward Yau Tang-wah, secretary for commerce and economic development, said that efforts are being made to fast-track the customs declarations of the shipments.

Hong Kong currently is not producing face masks apart from those made by inmates at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution. Lam said that the entire daily production of 50,000 masks is strictly for government use and will go first to public servants providing urgent and basic services. Yau said there is recent interest from local businesses in setting up face mask factories in Hong Kong. He did not elaborate.

Another urgent issue for the government is ensuring the safety of 1,300 Hong Kong residents held up by the transportation lockdown in Hubei province. According to an update from the Hong Kong government’s Wuhan office, the stranded Hong Kong locals are in good health but are scattered in more than 30 Hubei cities.

Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, said that the government is working on an evacuation plan that includes all the Hong Kong residents in Hubei. It is also adding quarantine space in Hong Kong to cope with their arrival, Nip said.