Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Friday says that ordering a complete lockdown as suggested by some as a way to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus runs contrary to the World Health Organization recommendations. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG - Hong Kong will not order a lockdown to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus as such a move would run contrary to the World Health Organization’s recommendations, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Friday.
Lam made the remarks while announcing an additional round of anti-infection measures within hours of the WHO declaring the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, stressed at a news conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee on Thursday that the WHO disapproves of or even opposes imposing travel or trade restrictions on China.
Lam emphasized that the government will keep a close eye on the latest development of the outbreak on the mainland and review the current practice to see if tighter measures are needed.
Since Thursday, six of the city’s 14 immigration checkpoints have been temperately closed, and half of the flights to and from the mainland have been cut.
Hong Kong residents who have been to Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, in the past 14 days will be placed in a quarantine center even if there are no symptoms of infection.
According to the Immigration Department, the number of arrivals to Hong Kong dropped by about 32 percent on Thursday to 160,923, down from 236,350 the day before.
In addition, Lam also announced that primary and secondary schools and preschools in Hong Kong will remain closed until March 2, while civil servants are being allowed to work at home until Feb 9.
She added that heads of government departments can make flexible work arrangements, but should guarantee basic public services.
The Hong Kong government also tightened quarantine measures. Hong Kong residents who have been to Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, in the past 14 days will be placed in a quarantine center even if there are no symptoms of infection.
In response to the soaring demand for face masks, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah, who joined Lam at Friday’s news conference, said that efforts are being made to fast-track the customs declaration of the shipments and ensure prompt deliveries.
The government said on Thursday that about 37 million surgical masks from mainland and overseas suppliers will be put on the Hong Kong market soon. But at Friday’s news conference, the date the imported masks will be put on the market was not given.
At the news conference, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said that the government is working on an evacuation plan for Hong Kong residents who are currently in Hubei. According to the government’s liaison office in Wuhan, Hubei’s capital, there are about 1,300 Hong Kong residents in over 30 cities of the province.
As of Friday, Hong Kong had confirmed 13 cases of the coronavirus infection.
