HONG KONG: Hong Kong on Saturday declared the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus an “emergency” — the city’s highest warning tier — and canceled all official Chinese New Year celebrations.

“Today I declare the lifting of the response level to an emergency,” chief executive Carrie Lam said, as the known death toll from the virus reached 41, with nearly 1,300 cases reported in China and several other countries including Thailand.
Lam said all official visits to the mainland and official Lunar New Year celebrations would be scrapped immediately, media reports stated.

She also said she had sought assistance from China’s State Council to ensure mask supplies were adequate.

(With input from agencies)