Hong Kong to remove mandatory quarantine for Covid infections

HONG KONG will stop requiring people infected with Covid to isolate as the government seeks to revive the economy.

The isolation order will be lifted from Jan 30, the city’s chief executive, John Lee, told lawmakers on Thursday (Jan 19) in a surprise announcement. 

Hong Kong has now abandoned virtually all its Covid-19 restrictions, with the exception of the mandatory wearing of masks. Anticipation is building over when the city will drop the mask mandate, as it is a visual reminder of the pandemic. 

Lee said the city has a “very sound barrier of immunity” and Covid-19 will be managed like any other upper respiratory disease.

“Our understanding of Covid-19 and how to deal with it has been greatly enhanced,” he said. “As a result, the government’s management approach will have to change.”

The city’s government planned to end mandatory mask-wearing in March or April, Ming Pao reported this week, citing unidentified sources. The mask rule was imposed in July 2020 and failure to wear one in public can result in a HK$5,000 (S$846) fine.

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Hong Kong was planning an aggressive publicity campaign to showcase its strengths to the world, as well as hold a series of events, Lee said. 

Natixis estimated that Hong Kong’s economy lost US$27 billion in potential growth due to the effects of the pandemic and the city’s strict Covid-19 curbs. BLOOMBERG