Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has confirmed that the two men who were hospitalized here on Wednesday with symptoms of the infectious disease commonly known as the “Wuhan viral pneumonia” are indeed infected with the novel coronavirus. The medical and virology research community now agree it is now only a question of when the pneumonia outbreak will reach Hong Kong, if it hasn’t already.

Both men left from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, where the death toll from the fast-spreading pandemic reached 17 out of hundreds of confirmed cases as of Thursday. Even more alarming is that secondary infections among those who did not visit Wuhan recently have been confirmed by mainland public health officials.

Given the grave situation, the Hubei capital city has been temporarily closed to outbound travel by air, land and sea. Hong Kong does not need to take such drastic measures just yet, but local residents are definitely better off following to the letter the respiratory tract infection prevention instructions issued by the SAR government.

In addition to body-temperature and health-status checks at all ports of entry, relevant government departments have issued personal hygiene guidelines on social media platforms and radio-television broadcasts. During the Lunar New Year holiday, people should wear surgical masks in crowded indoor venues or simply stay away from such places altogether.

Hong Kong residents generally have access to quality healthcare services and will receive timely help at public hospitals if they develop respiratory tract infection symptoms. All the pneumonia prevention and treatment protocols currently active here are in line with the latest international standards issued by the World Health Organization and regularly updated. 

Most importantly, the SAR government and relevant institutions are in close contact with various health authorities, while monitoring the epidemic situation in Wuhan and other mainland cities with confirmed cases. 

The SAR government has been widely commended for its early precautions. As long as local residents fully comply with the public health guidelines and personal hygiene routines, they should be able to minimize the risk of not only pneumonia infection but also other forms of viral respiratory tract infections such as the flu.

In keeping with its good record in the maintenance of public health, the SAR government encourages local residents who are vulnerable to the flu to receive flu shots if they have not already done so. Flu vaccinations have never been more necessary than they are now, and the government has lowered the age for free vaccinations this winter from 65 to 60. The vaccination has proved effective and safe in most cases and is therefore worth-taking.