Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement for incoming travellers to two weeks from February 5 given the much shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, confirming an earlier report on the quarantine move, also said that existing social-distancing curbs would remain in place for another two weeks until February 17. In-person school classes will remain suspended for two more weeks until February 21.
“There are many invisible transmission links in the community, and we have raced to cut down these links,” Lam said. “That’s why we have resorted to quick and tough measures.” The decision to shorten the quarantine period came after persistent complaints from travellers and companies paying high quarantine costs for employees.
Currently, Hong Kong residents returning from 147 countries or places deemed high-risk are subject to 21 days of quarantine at designated hotels. Those arriving from 15 countries must isolate at the Penny’s Bay quarantine facility for four days before completing the rest of their quarantine at a hotel. Unvaccinated residents returning from medium-risk countries are also subject to the same.
(Source: South China Morning Post)
