Risk assessment of novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreaks outside China

Peter Boldog; Tamas Tekeli; Zsolt Vizi; Attila Denes; Ferenc Bartha; Gergely Rost

Since no specific antiviral agent is available for treatment of this infection, and there is no vaccine [6] , the control measures, introduced both in China and other countries, aimed to prevent the transmission. A metropolitan-wide quarantine of Wuhan and nearby cities was introduced on 23-24 January [7] . Several airports and train stations have started temperature screening measures to identify people with fevers [8] . All public transportation was suspended in Wuhan from 10 a.m., 23 January, including all outbound trains and flights, and all bus, metro and ferry lines; additionally, all outbound trains and flights were halted [9] . Construction of a specialist emergency hospital was started in Wuhan [10] , and nearly 6000 medical workers were sent to Wuhan from across China [11] . Beijing also announced the suspension of all inter-provincial bus and train services; several touristic attractions, including the Forbidden City and Shanghai Disneyland were closed [9] . Other countries also introduced control measures, including screening passengers arriving from China and closing their borders [12] . Several airlines, including British Airways and Lufthansa, canceled all flights to and from mainland China [9] .