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Hong Kong hit by travel restrictions from countries with close business and tourism ties, as coronavirus fears spread
- Supply of Japanese seafood and fruit, imported into city as cargo on commercial flights, is under threat
- Conflicting messages about quarantine terms for Hongkongers in Thailand spark alarm and confusion
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Hong Kong is feeling the impact of countries with close business and tourism ties to the city imposing restrictions on arrivals because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.
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The daily supply of Japanese seafood and fruit, highly popular and typically flown to the city in the cargo hold of passenger jets, is under threat because of fewer flights expected as a result of new immigration controls unveiled by the country on Thursday night.
There was also confusion and alarm among travellers to Thailand on Friday as authorities from the kingdom first issued conflicting messages about quarantining arrivals from Hong Kong, then later clarified they would have to provide daily reports on their health when in the country, but stopped short of imposing a mandatory quarantine.
This came as the city confirmed three more Covid-19 cases – a 56-year-old businessman who had visited London and Paris, an 85-year-old man who had toured Mumbai, and the 69-year-old husband of an earlier patient – taking Hong Kong’s tally to 107.
I find the latest immigration arrangement puzzling, because Hong Kong and Macau’s situation is relatively stable
Health officials also announced they would start clinical trials with still-unproven antiviral drug Remdesivir, offering it to patients at three public hospitals starting from next week.
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