HK unveils new measures to address possible outbreak of Wuhan disease

Hong Kong government on Thursday announced a package of measures to address the possible outbreak of the Wuhan pneumonia-like disease after the city confirmed two infected cases.

Start from Friday, all high-speed train passengers arriving at West Kowloon Station are required to fill health declaration forms. The rail operator MTR will step up cleaning and disinfection of all the trains arriving at the station.

The Hong Kong government has also maintained close contact with mask suppliers to ensure supply, as the masks in the city is nearly out of stock. Batches of masks will be delivered to the city next week.

Meanwhile, major Spring Festival celebrations events in the city will be cancelled. Those include the four-day carnival in the West Kowloon Cultural District from Jan 25-28 and the Chinese New Year Cup on Jan 26.

In addition, two quarantine centers – the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village – are ready to take in patients.

The government also noted that masks and other protection gears for medical practitioners in the city are enough for three-month usage.

Both male patients, aged 39 and 56, had been to Wuhan within the past week. They have been put in quarantine at Princess Margaret Hospital in northwestern Kowloon.