https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...irms-new-cases

Looks like it's confirmed to be human to human transmittable, and cases are now going into exponential growth. Very troubling.

Ahead of CNY travel, I'm probably switching my plans around and instead of returning to HK from my business trip to SG this week, will be heading to Japan -> USA for a bit while watching how this plays out.

Many Chinese in HK return to their families in the mainland. They can easily get infected and bring it back to HK en masse.

According to a friend who works at WHO, this new case is taken very very seriously, there will be official communication on wednesday from Chinese gvt and World Health Organisation.

I have a business trip last week of february planned to HK.... I might have to postpone.

I wasn't worried about it until my dad called me this morning telling me that this thing has SARs potential.

Having a (quarterly) business trip to HKG late february too.
Going on current WHO information, doesn't look particularly worrying to me at the current moment. Possibly taking some additional precautions.

Will see how it pans out.

Precautions
 

Just a heads up to the must go to HK FTers - There is no retail stock of N95 breathing mask as the hospital authority has put a hold on all outstanding stocks.

The proper authorities might implement a more stringent health scan for returnees from China.

The good side is that many who went through 2003 are being more careful with precautions.

If you need to bring a gift, a box of N95 mask would be most welcome and appreciated just like in 2003.

Anyone transiting through HKG recently? I will be next week for a 3.5 hour layover. I'm not worried but curious as to how the mood is. I presume everyone is wearing face masks? I guess I should as well but I hate wearing these things.

The following has been circulating in HK Social Media. It is IMHO a very good translation of the speech in Chinese to English which I verified with a recording of the actual speech.

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Dr. Yuen Kwok Yung, a highly respected doctor during the previous SARS period gave the following advice in a speech yesterday.

1. He suggests Hong Kong people should try to avoid going to China during this period of time.
2. If going on a flight, make sure you wear a mask.
3. Always have antiseptic cleanser or towel readily available.
4. The virus “Coronavirus” is similar type of virus like the previous SARS or MERS. This time it is OC43. There is still no known method of tackling this virus.
5. If you have to go to the market, make sure you wear a mask. Be very vigilant.
6. Health Authority announced that this virus is very serious. However, as the virus is found to be able to enter your body if your throat or throat mucous is dry, the one precaution they suggest which can be taken is to ensure your throat or throat mucous is always in a moist condition. In fact, they suggest not to allow your throat to become dry, as in 10 minutes of being dry, the virus will find ways to enter into your body. So do not refrain from drinking water, always have a bottle handy.
For adults, they suggest drinking 50-80cc of warm water; for children 30-50cc. Just drink if you feel your throat is dry. Do not hesitate. However drinking more than the amount recommended is not necessary, as it will just want to pass through your system. The idea is to “Keep your Throat Constantly Moist”
7. Before end of March, try not to enter crowded places, MTR or public Transport, and wear a mask if necessary.
8. Avoid eating too much deep fried food and take plenty of Vitamen C.
9. Control Centre advice on symptoms of this virus:
- fast and high fever, hard to lower, but if successful, the fever will return very soon.
- next stage is coughing, in long duration, people affected are mainly children.
- Adults has mainly throat symptoms, together with headaches and physical discomforts.
- the virus is “highly” contagious.
- elderly and young children are most susceptible, so take super precaution.

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You should buy an N95 grade mask and wear it on the plane as well as during your layover time at HKIA. There will travellers originating from China in the departure area.
One is not sure about the plane as well.

Take care of yourself. I personally do not like wearing breathing mask as well but I wear them to not suffer the potential consequences.

This sounds serious.

I'm wondering how long it will be until the airlines allow us to change our flights to Asia for free to a later time frame. I got a whopper of a deal on my IAH-HKG ticket for next week and it would pain me greatly to cancel it.

Just curious, why avoid fried foods? Is it because of "yeat-hay"?

In TCM heat is conducive to disease transmission.

This is one of those cases which I will follow due to my low risk tolerance.

Signed
Survivor of HK-67,03,19.

HK has the SARS issue back in 2003. It was a brutal crisis. People remembered that and is being very cautious.
The good thing about this round is China is also being cautious and open about findings and facts.

Until there is a declaration from WHO I doubt there will be any action by the airlines.

The descriptions went from "no person to person transmission" to this virtually overnight... very odd..

I am thousands of miles away and i went through the same symptoms last week - days of high fever followed by cough - the description covers pretty much all flu like cases... until there is a specific widely available test this will be very hard to confirm and quantify...

First Wuhan coronavirus confirmed in United States, reports say
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scie...es-reports-say

It's in the USA now