The US State Department allowed some consular staff in Hong Kong and relatives to return home due to concerns about the spread of corona virus.

"The US State Department has decided to allow employees to voluntarily leave the consulate general in Hong Kong due to concerns about the risks associated with the Covid-19 epidemic and to ensure the safety and security of officials. The United States and its relatives, "the US State Department released on February 11.

A State Department spokesman said this was not an evacuation notice, because staff leaving the consulate in Hong Kong was "not mandatory".

This decision only applies to "non-emergency" consular officers who do not have to handle urgent work. The US Consulate General in Hong Kong will remain open and meet all the needs of US citizens here.

The decision was made by the US State Department after health officials in Hong Kong on 9 February confirmed 10 more cases of Covid-19 infections, including 9 people from the same family. The number of new infections brings the total number of people with Covid-19 in Hong Kong to 49.

Pandemic Covid-19 pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan City, capital of Hubei province since early December 2019, spread to 31 provinces in China and 26 countries and territories around the world. As of 12/2, the disease has infected more than 45,000 people, 1,115 died, mainly in Hubei, China.