Travelers found to be infected with Covid-19 after arriving in Hong Kong can be released on the fifth day of isolation instead of the seventh if they return a negative result on a rapid test under a series of eased measures to be announced on Thursday, South China Morning Post reported.
According to the report, the arrivals will still be required to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon landing and on their third day. Other relaxations will include the shortening of isolation periods for infected persons and their close contacts from a week to five days.
The easing of coronavirus curbs came a day after mainland China’s paradigm shift in its zero-Covid policy, with the Hong Kong government under pressure to further relax border controls.
In the latest move on the mainland, Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms are allowed to isolate at home for seven days instead of at a centralized government facility. Their close contacts can also quarantine at home for five days instead of seven.
Meanwhile, mainland residents no longer need to present a green health code, previously issued to PCR-negative users, when entering public places, except at hospitals, schools and care homes for the elderly.
In Hong Kong, inbound travelers serving their three-day medical surveillance cannot access venues that require mandatory vaccine pass checks, including restaurants, bars, gyms and cinemas.
However, arrivals are free to enter places which do not require vaccine pass checks, such as museums, theme parks and places of worship, under policy changes announced in mid-November. They also need to take two PCR tests and seven RATs within eight days. (With inputs from South China Morning Post)
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