Not News We were Hoping For

Professor Yuen says the coronavirus may not go away until the end of the year

If you thought the coronavirus would disappear in a few months, you will be horrified to find out one of Hong Kong's leading microbiologists says the epidemic will not end this year. We're only in the beginning of March.

To date Italy has over 7,300 cases, and 366 deaths

University of Hong Kong Professor Yuen Kwok-yung says COVID-19 has spread all over the world, making it very difficult to contain. And while the numbers of new cases seem to be slowing down in China, the epicenter of the virus, there are concerns about it being imported from other countries like Italy, South Korea, Iran.

While the virus may slow down in the summer, it could have a resurgence in the winter.

He believes the epidemic will not end until a cheap antiviral or vaccine is available, or the majority of the population had contracted the virus and developed a natural immunity.

Iran has over 6,500 confirmed cases, 237 deaths

Currently anyone flying into Hong Kong from Iran, the city of Daegu and surrounding North Gyeongsang province in South Korea, and three regions in Italy will have to undergo and mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The government is mulling over extending quarantine measures to people traveling from France and Germany.

Hong Kong now has 115 confirmed cases and two deaths.

And Yuen is also strongly suggesting people not to travel outside of Hong Kong until the end of the year. "When the epidemic is serious, avoid traveling to other places unless necessary," he says.

Time to stock up on more masks, toilet paper and sanitizer?

Yuen believes it is too early to tell if China will have the coronavirus under control by April as experts there have been predicting.

Does this mean we'll see more panic buying in the city for masks, rice, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and so on to last until December?

You have been warned...