Don't Leave Town During Crisis, Health Chief Warns

Health Secretary Sophia Chan has urged Hong Kong people not to leave the SAR unless it's absolutely essential as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

Chan made the remarks after being asked about reports that a travel agency had already begun planning tours to the mainland for next month.

WWPKG said enough people had booked for it to run a tour to eastern provinces departing on May 9, two days after rules stipulating that people coming from the mainland must spend two weeks in home quarantine are due to lapse.

Chan said many parts of the mainland were still implementing quarantine arrangements of their own, and pointed out that Hong Kong had a red travel warning in place for every other country in the world, meaning only essential journeys should take place.

She said everyone arriving in the SAR would soon have to undergo tests at the AsiaWorldExpo convention centre near the airport and wait there until their results are through. Even if they test negative, they'll have to spend two weeks in quarantine at home.

The tests were introduced for people arriving from Britain on Thursday and will be extended to everyone coming from Europe and the United States from Monday.

Chan urged people to maintain social distancing and not drop their guard against the virus.

Meanwhile a medical adviser to the government, David Hui from the Chinese University, warned that it would still be risky to travel across the border next month.

He said he was worried that there could be a second wave of outbreaks on the mainland as various cities return to normal operations.

He advised that it would be better for people not to travel across the border until 28 days pass without the mainland reporting new cases or community outbreaks.

WWPKG announced later in the day that it would cancel all its tours until June 19, citing the government's advice against travel.

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