But University of Hong Kong researchers say coronavirus epidemic is ‘much more severe and deadlier’ than the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

Health experts warned of a future epidemic that would be ‘threatening to the world and socially disrupting’. The new coronavirus may fit the description.

Visitation ban and lack of manpower are spillover effects of outbreak, as pregnant women are unable to see their partners, while family members can only talk to loved ones on video call.

On Monday and Tuesday, the lowest temperature will be around 10 degrees Celsius in urban areas, and a few degrees lower in the New Territories.

Hong Kong Asia Heart Centre says it will offer heart operations starting from US$8,630 to make emergency services affordable to patients.

Professor Terence Lau, director of innovation and technology development at PolyU, says the invention can speed up diagnosis.

Industry lawmaker Felix Chung hopes to provide alternatives as soon as possible to relieve people’s panic amid short supply of protective gear.

We have plenty fresh seafood, meat, fruits and vegetables in the markets and shops to choose from, so where do we start?

Researchers also say early diagnosis is important, as illness can lead to complications and organ failure.

Researchers call for preparedness against airborne transmission, including fitted respirators and other personal protective equipment.

CAT scan revealed signs of pneumonia on 10-year-old Shenzhen boy’s lungs even though he had no outward signs of infection.

Hospital Authority confirms the bungle at Tuen Mun Hospital was a potential threat to other patients and medical staff.

The Lunar New Year is drawing near, and tens of millions of people will be travelling to all parts of mainland China and beyond. As Wuhan is a travel hub for central China, it raises the spectre of the virus rapidly spreading further afield.

Man in Wuhan, 69, dies two weeks after being admitted to hospital, while Thai authorities report their second infected patient.

Father, son and cousin who lived in the same house and ran a stall at the seafood market at the centre of outbreak among those hit, authorities say.

WHO said preliminary epidemiological investigations had found most cases were in people who either worked at or were frequent visitors to the market, which closed on January 1.

A team of experts will also fly over to the mainland city to be briefed on the situation and learn about control measures.

Experts say this would allow for more targeted tests and shorten time for diagnosis by more than half. They also call for calm, reminding the public that strain seems to be less lethal than Sars.

Authorities expect number of cases to continue to rise and urge public to get vaccinated as early as possible, and observe strict hygiene.

The Hong Kong and mainland China markets are – once again – expected to see-saw between optimism over a trade deal between Beijing and Washington and caution about what looks like Iran and the US walking back from an all-out armed conflict.

Lawmakers grill Hong Kong health secretary Sophia Chan for 2½ hours on the government’s response to the pneumonia situation in Wuhan.

Passengers arriving from Wuhan on high-speed rail will be screened before getting off the train as new rules make it compulsory for city’s doctors to tell authorities about any suspected cases.

Patient admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital displaying symptoms of upper respiratory infection.

An average of 5,964 people visited the city’s public emergency departments daily between December 10 and 16.

The Hospital Authority has introduced new measures to deal with the rising flu surge, including providing patients with higher subsidies to visit private clinics.

Study aims to estimate speed of influenza spread and to predict epidemic’s size both before and during the outbreak after classes for young children have been abruptly cancelled for two consecutive years following winter flu surge.

It is believed the use of a nasal spray will help push up the vaccination rate among children as it is easier to administer than conventional flu jabs.

With a population that is growing ever-older, the current overuse of public health services is unsustainable. Private health care should be expanded and encouraged, and public health services should charge more.

Overseas doctors can be exempted from internship requirements if they have worked in public hospitals or medical schools in Hong Kong for three years and pass the licensing examination in that time.