now a third person has tested positive
in the UK for coronavirus the patient
did not catch the virus in China where
the vast majority of cases have been
found but elsewhere in Asia before
traveling to the UK and has been taken
to a specialist NHS treatment center
meanwhile China's ambassador to the UK
Liu Xiao Ming has accused the British
government of overreacting to the virus
outbreak
our correspondent Roopa Twinkletoes
reports now from Hong Kong this is what
happens when fear takes hold shops in
Hong Kong today were being cleared of
rice and toilet paper as rumors swirled
of a complete shutdown of the border
with mainland China out in Hong Kong
harbor a huge cruise ship the virus
possibly loose on board several
passengers have tested positive and no
one is being allowed off ha you think
wants me out from his balcony Hinsley Li
can look out at his hometown without her
but can't go there I am nervous but the
only thing we can do is stay in our
cabins and be careful Hong Kong has now
at least five cases of people with the
coronavirus who haven't been to mainland
China and haven't had any apparent
contact with people from mainland China
also three of them live in the same
place that is this building behind me
here and that may be the first
indication of what is called community
transmission that is the virus passing
from one person to another
here in Hong Kong experts here say they
are now not optimistic that the virus
can be contained that a full pandemic
may be on the way not so according to
the Chinese ambassador to London who
today went on the offensive insisting
China has the situation under control
hope that the governments of all
countries including the UK should
understand and support China's efforts
respect the professional advice of w-h-o
a boy over-reaction
a boy trading panic
but at the same time from Wuhan Pictures
the like of which we haven't seen in
generations stadiums gymnasiums and
conference centers all being turned into
fever centers so desperate is the
shortage of beds for the sick well
anyhow since Altium are by phone today I
managed to talk to a young woman in
Wuhan who described to me the stress of
not knowing what is really going on and
what to believe we don't feel safe we
don't know how the violence is passed
from one person to another but we can't
stay at home all the time you know we
don't know when this will end we don't
know when we'll be able to return to
normal life that's very stressful there
is some good news these are patients who
have recovered leaving hospital today
but tonight we learned that the virus
had killed this man dr. Lee wen Liang in
early December this brave Wuhan doctor
had attempted to warm the authorities
about the spread of a dangerous new
virus his warnings were ignored
Rupert wingfield Hays BBC News in Hong
Kong well let's go live now to st.
Thomas's Hospital in London where the
latest case in the UK is being dealt
with who PM our health editor is there
what's the latest there Hugh well Hugh
the patient a middle aged man was
brought here this afternoon to the
specialist infectious diseases treatment
center he'd been taken ill in Brighton
and was isolated at home before testing
positive now it is understood that he
traveled in recently to the UK from
Singapore and health authorities are
briefed that he did not contract this
virus in China so on the back of that
they've extended their guidance to
people coming into the UK up until today
anyone coming in from China who
developed symptoms was urged to self
isolation call NHS 1 1 1 they've now
extended that going to anyone coming in
from some other Asian countries
including Japan Malaysia and Singapore
so where does this leave us tonight well
the chief medical officer for England
Chris witty working with the UK's other
chief medical officers says this remains
a serious problem for China
but they're still relatively few cases
beyond that if that remains the case
they say the NHS can cope with what's
thrown at them if the w-h-o changed
their guidance and it becomes a global
pandemic that could create serious
pressure for the NHS humiliates again
keep him there for us at st. Thomas's
Hospital