Coronavirus: top Hong Kong scientist claims community outbreak has already occurred as government prepares to quarantine mainland Chinese
- Lack of travel history in several confirmed cases convinces Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of local human-to-human transmission
- Carrie Lam adviser says government to quarantine incoming mainland Chinese in hotels and government centres
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung’s claim came a day after the government said all travellers from the mainland, including Hong Kong residents, would be placed on a mandatory 14-day quarantine as part of its escalated response to the contagion.
The city’s administration was expected to provide more details on how that would be executed on Thursday afternoon, amid uncertainty over the manpower and resources at its disposal to impose effective measures.
Yuen, a leading microbiologist and infectious-diseases expert at the University of Hong Kong, said many of the 21 patients found to be infected in the city had not visited the mainland recently.
He said he was convinced a local outbreak had started, and human-to-human transmission was taking place within the city. Yuen said every measure should be taken to minimise the spread, including further border closures.
