Hong Kong strengthens detection and response measures against new Wuhan virus as mainland China reveals disease has spread
- Health declaration forms will be used at airport and expanded monitoring will cover everyone arriving from Hubei province
- Mainland authorities reveal there are five cases in Beijing, one in Shanghai and 14 in Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong
Hong Kong has stepped up detection measures against the new Wuhan pneumonia-like coronavirus, including the use of health declaration forms at the airport and expanded monitoring of local suspected cases to cover those with symptoms and arriving from Hubei province.
The latest measures came as Chinese authorities confirmed that another person had died over the weekend from the infection, bringing the death toll to three in Wuhan, and for the first time revealed the virus had spread, with five cases in Beijing, one in Shanghai and 14 in Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong.
Total confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 218.
In Hong Kong, seven more suspected infections were reported, taking the total to 106 as of 8am on Monday, according to the Centre for Health Protection. There were no confirmed cases in the city.
The World Health Organisation, meanwhile, said there were indications the severe acute respiratory syndrome-like virus – thought to have originated in a seafood and meat market in Wuhan – could spread through human-to-human transmission.