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UPDATE: A Hong Kong friend emails:
Hoping not to jinx it, but pretty good news.
Only two cases in Hong Kong in the past week or so.
(Since the 14th, one case on the 18th and one on the 20th).That comes down to:
1 – Hong Kong shut the border with China
2 – People know the protocol after dealing with SARS 17 years ago.
3 – People wear masks, etc. out of courtesy to others as much as for themselves – so 99% are wearing masks within 4-6 feet of other people.
4 – Doctors being hyper-vigilant. As there are still many “unknowns”, confirmed and sick patients will not only have to be cleared of their symptoms and signs (such as X-ray and various tests) but also (most important) at least TWO molecular tests free of the virus in their respiratory system before they can be released (although they are not sick).People doing lots of hiking in the great outdoors with good weather of late while shopping malls remain empty.
Fingers crossed. I’d like nothing better than to see this fizzle.