Hong Kong reduces quarantine period to 2 weeks for international arrivals

Hong Kong has announced that it is reducing the mandatory quarantine for international travellers to two weeks from three weeks. The news comes even as Hong Kong continues to struggle to contain COVID-19 virus outbreaks, involving Delta and Omicron variants. Hong Kong, like mainland China, is one of the few places in the world that is still pursuing a ‘zero-COVID’ strategy.

WIth the emergence of Omicron variant across the globe, the city imposed strict travel restrictions in December, shut down its borders to arrivals from eight countries, and even banned transit passengers from more than 150 destinations. In this context, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam recently stated that starting from February 5, the three-week mandatory quarantine period will be reduced to two weeks for all arrivals.Carrie added that all arrivals to Hong Kong will now need to undergo 14 days mandatory quarantine in designated hotels, and seven days of self-monitoring at home. She further added that all arrivals will be allowed to leave their homes during the final days, but will be required to undergo a COVID test at least twice.
Reports have it that the ban on travellers arriving from eight countries—Canada, Australia, France, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, United States, and United Kingdom—will continue for another two weeks, till February 18. The extension comes as the city gears up for the Lunar New Year.

Carrie further urged residents to stay at home, avoid family gatherings, and join hands to fight the virus during the crisis. She added that Hong Kong's mandatory three-week quarantine is one of the world’s longest, and has been subject to a barrage of complaints from the international business community. The policy change was ‘purely based on science’, due to Omicron's shorter incubation period, she stated.