Jackie Chan denies he’s been quarantined for coronavirus

Jackie Chan is denying reports that he has been placed under quarantine over coronavirus concerns, saying he’s “very healthy and safe.”

“Firstly, I’d like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for everybody’s concern,” Chan wrote Thursday on his website. “I’m very healthy and safe, and haven’t been quarantined. I’ve received many messages from friends asking if I’m ok. Your love and concern is so heartwarming.”

He thanked fans for sending him face masks and said he asked his staff to “donate your kindness through official organisations to those who need it most.”

The 65-year-old actor, who was born in Hong Kong, wrote earlier this month that his recent movie “Vanguard” was pulled out of China due to concerns that coronavirus would spread to moviegoers in theaters, outlet Straight Times reported.

Chan took to the social media site Weibo to offer a reward of 1 million yuan — approximately $197,000 — for the development of an antidote.

“Science and technology is key to overcoming the virus, and I believe many people have the same thought as me and hope that an antidote can be developed as soon as possible,” he wrote. “I have a ‘naive’ idea now. No matter which individual or organisation develops the antidote, I want to thank them with 1 million yuan.”

There have been 94 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Hong Kong and two deaths as of Friday, according to the South China Morning Post. The city has released a list of buildings that have been placed under quarantine. 

Early Friday, Hong Kong officials confirmed that a dog has tested “weak positive” for the virus, meaning there were low traces of the disease. Its owner, a 60-year-old woman, tested positive for the virus earlier this month.

The dog is currently under quarantine at a port in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. There are no other animals using the facility and the dog will be returned to its owner once it tests negative for the virus. 

More than 80,000 people have been infected with the virus so far and at least 2,800 have died worldwide, most of them in mainland China.