A chronology of events during SARS outbreak

Nov 18, 2002: First case of atypical pneumonia (AP) reported in Foshan, Guangdong province.

Feb 21, 2003: An infected medical doctor, the very first imported case, came to Hong Kong from Guangdong. He checked into the Metropole Hotel, Mong Kok.

March 4, 2003: JJ, a 26-year-old local resident, after visiting the Metropole Hotel, developed respiratory symptoms. He was admitted to Ward 8A of Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH), New Territories.

March 10, 2003

11 healthcare workers of Ward 8A with respiratory symptoms went on sick leave.

Ward 8A was closed for admission, discharge and visit.

March 11, 2003: 23 more feverish healthcare workers were admitted to PWH.

March 12, 2003

PWH set up a Disease Control Center (DCC) to investigate the origin of the disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert about the outbreak of the disease in Hong Kong.

March 14, 2003: JJ was confirmed as the index patient who contracted the new infectious disease.

March 15, 2003: WHO named the new viral disease as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

March 29, 2003: All schools were suspended.

April 2, 2003: WHO issued travel advisory against non-essential travel to HK.

April 16, 2003: WHO announced that a novel pathogen under the coronavirus family, discovered by microbiologists of the University of Hong Kong, is the cause of SARS.

April 22, 2003: Secondary Three and above students resumed classes.

May 19, 2003: All students resumed classes.

May 23, 2003: WHO removed travel advisory against non-essential travel to HK.

June 23, 2003: WHO removed HK from the list of areas with recent local transmission of SARS.

(HK Edition 06/29/2017 page6)