The city’s chief executive Carrie Lam announced during a
press conference Monday that a ban on flights from nine countries — Australia,
Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the U.S. —
would be lifted from April 1. A flight ban on most these countries has been in
place since January, as authorities sought to stem the outbreak of the highly
transmissible omicron variant in Hong Kong.
Travelers entering the city can also quarantine for as
little as seven days in quarantine hotels — down from 14 days — if they test
negative for the virus on the sixth and seventh days of their quarantine. Such
travelers must also be fully vaccinated and test negative for the coronavirus
before entering the city.
Lam also said that plans for a citywide mass-testing
exercise, which was first announced in February, would be suspended.
“The experts are of the opinion that it’s not appropriate
for us to devote finite resources to the universal mass-testing,” said Lam.
“The SAR government will continue to monitor the situation. When the conditions
are right, we will consider whether we will be implementing the compulsory
universal testing.”
The changes announced Monday signal a shift in Hong Kong’s
handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as authorities sought to provide a
direction for Hong Kong businesses and its residents after two years of
aligning with mainland China’s “zero COVID” policy.
Lam said that the changes come as part of an interim review
of the city’s measures, and that various stakeholders in the city will be
consulted for any longer-term roadmaps when it comes to public health and
economic development.
“We have to listen more carefully to the experts, both
locally and from the mainland,” said Lam.
“For any longer-term public health strategy, we will have to
take into account both factors that is maintaining Hong Kong’s accessibility to
the mainland, and also ensuring her continued connectivity with the outside
world.”
On Monday, Lam also announced that social distancing
measures will stay in place, although they will be lifted in stages from April
21 if infections do not surge, Lam said. A ban on dining in after 6 p.m. will
be lifted, and public gatherings will be capped at four people, up from two.
Other businesses that were ordered to shutter temporarily,
such as gyms and massage parlors, will also be allowed to reopen.
Hong Kong reported 14,063 infections on Monday, the lowest
in over three weeks. At the peak of its outbreak, the city reported over 50,000
cases daily, and has reported over 1 million infections and nearly 5,700 deaths
since the current outbreak began at the end of last year. -AP