Hong Kong to put an end to mandatory quarantine

HONK KONG: The city will stop requiring people infected with Covid-19 to isolate as the government seeks to revive the economy.

The isolation order will be lifted from Jan 30, the city’s leader John Lee told lawmakers yesterday in a surprise announcement.

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

The city’s health chief Lo ChungMau was due to hold a press conference yesterday afternoon, according to a government statement. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun will also attend.

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

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

The city’s government is planning to end mandatory mask wearing in March or April, Ming Pao reported this week, citing unidentified people.

The mask rule was imposed in July 2020 and failure to wear one in public can result in a HK$5,000 (21,100 baht) fine.

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

Natixis SA estimates Hong Kong’s economy lost US$27 billion (892 billion baht) in potential growth due to the effects of the pandemic and strict Covid curbs.