Coronavirus: no more hotel quarantine in Hong Kong although officials stop short of providing road map to completely lifting travel curbs
- Long-awaited move signals lifting of one of the world’s toughest anti-pandemic regimes, in force for more than two years
- Authorities had in August eased the week-long hotel quarantine requirement to a ‘3+4’ arrangement
The long-awaited scrapping of quarantine, announced on Friday, marks a significant easing of one of the world’s toughest anti-pandemic regimes after more than 2½ years of attempting to keep the coronavirus at bay at the cost of alienating business travellers, shutting out tourists, and frustrating local residents.
Detailing the new arrangements at a media briefing, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu underscored the need to proceed in an “orderly manner” based on Hong Kong’s improving coronavirus situation.
“I don’t have a crystal ball … but if things go well, then of course we will be considering other new measures to allow even more activities in Hong Kong and allow more convenience for travellers to come,” he said.
“Our considerations are based on data analysis of the pandemic. We have also considered factors including people’s livelihoods, economic activities, Hong Kong’s competitiveness and ease of entry.”
03:32
Hong Kong ends mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals under ’0+3' plan
Health authorities recorded 5,387 new coronavirus infections on Friday, including 156 imported ones, along with 12 more related fatalities. The city’s tally now stands at 1,736,413 cases. The Hospital Authority also said an additional 153 Covid-related deaths were recorded between February and April after adjustments to cases, taking the total to 10,099.
