Hong Kong to shorten quarantine for most arrivals to seven days

Hong Kong

HONG Kong's government said on Monday that it would shorten the quarantine period for vaccinated people arriving in the city to seven days from 14 days, provided travellers show sufficient antibodies against the coronavirus.

Chief executive Carrie Lam, who was speaking at a press briefing, said that the new measures were only applicable to people who have logged 14 days following their second vaccination dose. The rule change is due to take effect from June 30, she said.

The Chinese-ruled city has some of the toughest quarantine rules globally with residents mandated to stay for up to 21 days in hotels after arriving. Fully vaccinated people are also required to serve quarantine in government facilities if they come into close contact with infected people, even if they have tested negative for the virus.

The current quarantine regime has been a growing source of public anger. Travellers have to book their own hotel rooms, and they are being reserved quickly over the summer period.

The move to reduce the quarantine duration comes as the government tries to incentivise more of its 7.5 million population to get Covid-19 vaccinations. So far, only around 17 per cent of residents have been fully vaccinated since the scheme started in February. For those arriving from countries deemed "very high risk", the quarantine period remains unchanged at 21 days.

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Mrs Lam did not specify which places would be excluded from the new plan, although the South China Morning Post reported earlier on Monday that the easing would apply to countries in the city's "high-risk" category, which currently includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and some European nations.

Bloomberg reported last week that the quarantine easing plan, which had been recommended by a government advisory panel earlier this month, had been approved by the government.

Health secretary Sophia Chan, speaking at the same press conference, said some social distancing measures, including increasing capacity at restaurants and bars, would be eased from June 24 for vaccinated residents. Hong Kong authorities have over the past month piled pressure on businesses and financial institutions to encourage vaccinations and urged them to grant employees a day off for each jab.

Many corporates have unveiled incentives and rewards for vaccinations while some companies and private clubs have threatened to deny pay rises or lay off workers if staff do not get jabbed. The former British colony has largely controlled the virus with around 11,800 infections and 210 deaths, with the majority of residents choosing to delay vaccinations. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG