On 31 December 2019, a new coronavirus disease, now officially named “Covid-19”, was first reported to the World Health Organization (the “WHO”)’s Country Office in China. On 11 March 2020, the WHO stated that “Covid-19 can be characterized as a pandemic” and, on 13 March,

they stated that Covid-19 had been reported in “123 countries and territories. 5,000 people have lost their lives, a tragic milestone. Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic.”

On 13 March, President Trump declared a national emergency in the U.S. and suspended all travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days. On 14 March, the U.S. extended its European travel suspension to the U.K. and, on 15 March, the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued an advisory against all but essential travel to the U.S. In parallel, travel restrictions are being implemented and national borders closed around the world. Hong Kong will quarantine all arrivals to the city from 19 March.

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