HONG KONG: Panicky Hong Kong residents scooped loads of tissues and noodles into supermarket trolleys on Friday despite government assurances that supplies would be maintained during an outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that emerged in mainland China last month. Hong Kong has had 24 cases of the virus, and one of only two deaths outside mainland China where almost 640 people have died in the outbreak. Hong Kong has closed some cross-border links but has said completely sealing it would be inappropriate, impractical and discriminatory. On Saturday, Hong Kong will introduce quarantine for two weeks for all people arriving from the mainland. Health officials are trying to trace people who had travelled on the ship, many of whom disembarked in Hong Kong in January.

Source: New Strait Times February 07, 2020 07:18 UTC