Hong Kong Announced Coronavirus at Highest Level of Emergency

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Saturday announced the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak to be of the highest emergency response level. It was previously held as "serious" after the city reported five confirmed cases.

This has raised the government's retaliation and they are rolling out a series of measures to prevent further infection.

Last Saturday, according to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, she would personally lead an interdepartmental steering committee. She also announced the cancellation of the city's marathon, the lengthening of school holidays and the enactment of health declarations at all entry points to Hong Kong.

The interdepartmental steering committee will issue strategic and other measures as soon as practicable.

She stated that all flights and high-speed trains from Wuhan to Hong Kong would be suspended indefinitely to control the spread of the virus.

She also addressed that health declaration requirements would cover all entry points into Hong Kong, including the border crossings at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau.

Temperature checks will be issued for outgoing travelers, with priority given to those heading to Shenzhen and Macau.

Lam rebutted mounting criticism that her government had been slow to react in her absence.

Since Friday, five confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection had been identified in Hong Kong, along with 108 suspected cases.

In response to criticism, Lam held emergency meetings with health officials on Saturday morning following her return from Davos.

Out of the five confirmed cases, four arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal that connects with the mainland.

The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, which is slated to take place on February 9, will be canceled. This was confirmed on their Facebook page, affecting 70,000 participants.

Most kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in the city will now restart classes on February 17; they would remain closed for an extra two weeks.

The virus has ballooned to over 1,300 cases worldwide. At least 41 people have died but it does not have a vaccine yet.

According to health authorities, an additional 122 people in Hong Kong are being treated for potentially having the disease.

Hong Kong is about 600 miles (919 km) from the epicenter of the disease outbreak, in the mainland Chinese city of Wuhan.

According to Lam, the government has not seen serious and widespread infections, but they are taking the outbreak seriously and they hope to be ahead of the epidemic.

Back in 2003, Hong Kong was among the places most affected by the outbreak of SARS, another coronavirus.

All official visits to the mainland and official Chinese New Year celebrations were halted immediately.

The Hong Kong leader had sought assistance from China's State Council to keep on-going mask supplies adequate.

Other than extended school closings and suspended flights were theme park closures and event cancellations - including the shutdown of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Ocean Park. However, hotels at both parks will remain open and exchanges and refunds will be offered to anyone with pre-booked tickets.

False declarations are punishable by six months in prison or a fine of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($643).