The Hong Kong government has announced that it will be quarantining all arrivals from the mainland for 14 days in an effort to stem the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, yet another tightening of border security amid sustained calls for it to shut the border entirely.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a press briefing on Wednesday that she will be invoking special powers under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, and that starting from Saturday, all arrivals from the mainland — including both SAR residents and non-residents — must be quarantined.
She also announced that the government will also be shutting down the Kai Tak cruise terminal as a border control point, while still stopping short of the full border shutdown being demanded by striking hospital staff and pro-democracy lawmakers.
Lam reiterated that it was impractical to shut down the airport, and that the vast majority of people crossing the border into the city are SAR residents.
She also confirmed that an additional three people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in Hong Kong to 21.
Lam didn’t provide any details, but RTHK reported that the new cases include a 56-year-old man, and the wife and daughter of a 60-year-old man who was confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday.
