China coronavirus: Hong Kong medical experts call for ‘draconian’ measures in city as research estimates there are already 44,000 cases in Wuhan

HKU’s faculty of medicine dean Gabriel Leung says research shows self-sustaining human-to-human transmission is already happening in all major mainland cities

He called for measures to limit people’s movement, school closures, work-from-home arrangements and cancellation of mass gatherings

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There could be many more cases in Wuhan, Hong Kong researchers say. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:37pm, 27 Jan 2020Updated: 11:52pm, 27 Jan 2020

Hong Kong infectious disease experts are urging the government to take “draconian” measures against the spread of the deadly new coronavirus from the mainland Chinese city of Wuhan, citing research estimating that 44,000 patients could be infected there – far higher than official figures.

University of Hong Kong academics on Monday estimated that the number of patients in Wuhan had reached 43,590 by Saturday, including those in the incubation stage of the virus, which causes pneumonia.

Mainland authorities have put the number of confirmed cases across the country at about 2,800 as of Monday, with the death toll at 82.

Hong Kong has eight confirmed cases of infection.

Lead researcher and dean of HKU’s faculty of medicine Gabriel Leung said his team estimated there were 25,630 patients showing symptoms in Wuhan and that the number would double in 6.2 days, according to mathematical modelling based on infection figures worldwide as of Saturday.

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