Hong Kong, Jan 25 (TIWN) Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Saturday declared the impact of the the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak to be of the highest emergency response level, raising it from the previous status of "serious", after the city reported five confirmed cases.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, in a 90-minute press conference on Saturday afternoon, said that she would personally chair an interdepartmental steering committee, while also announcing the cancellation of the city’s marathon, the extension of school holidays and the implementation of health declarations at all entry points to Hong Kong.