US allows government staff to leave Hong Kong over coronavirus worries

A man walking past an electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index outside a local bank in the city on Tuesday, (Feb 11). China's daily death toll from new virus has topped 100 for first time, with more than 1,000 total deaths recorded, China's health ministry announced on Tuesday (Feb 11). - AP

WASHINGTON: The United States has authorised the voluntary departure of US government employees and their family members from Hong Kong in light of the outbreak of a deadly coronavirus, the State Department said on Tuesday (Feb 11).

According to a department spokesperson the authorization was made "out of an abundance of caution related to uncertainties associated" with the disease.