Hong Kong declares highest level of emergency due to China coronavirus

15:26, 25.01.2020

Hong Kong’s leader has declared the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak an emergency, raising the government’s response to its highest level and rolling out a series of measures to prevent further infection.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, in a 90-minute press conference on Saturday afternoon, said that she would personally chair an interdepartmental steering committee, while also announcing the cancellation of the city’s marathon, the extension of school holidays and the implementation of health declarations at all entry points to Hong Kong, as reported by South China Morning Post.

All flights and high-speed trains from Wuhan to Hong Kong would be suspended indefinitely to control the spread of the virus, she added.

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

Standard Chartered Marathon confirmed the cancellation of the race on its Facebook page, with about 70,000 participants affected.

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