Authorities in Hong Kong have announced that the country would lift some of its restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus, including abolishing the ban on flights from nine countries.
In addition, the government will also shorten the quarantine period after keeping strict entry rules in place for nearly two years.
According to the announcement of the Chief Executive Carrie Lam, residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, France, Canada, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines will be eligible to return home from April 1, VisaGuide.World reports.
In addition, authorities in Hong Kong have announced that the quarantine period will be shortened from 14 days to seven days. In order to be subject to the shortened quarantine period, travelers must present a negative result of the COVID-19 test on the sixth and seventh day of their isolation period.
Authorities in Hong Kong have clarified that at present, only residents from the countries mentioned above who have completed their immunization process against the virus will be eligible to return to Hong Kong, while there has still not been clarified what the recent changes mean for non-residents from other countries.
Hong Kong authorities previously obliged the majority of inbound passengers to self-isolate in a hotel room for three weeks, making it among the world’s longest quarantine periods.
Last week, Lam emphasized the need to improve the city’s standing in global business, adding that the time had come for the government to review border controls.
“I have a very strong feeling that people’s tolerance are fading. I have a very good [feeling] that some of our financial institutions are losing patience about this sort of isolated status of Hong Kong, as Hong Kong is an international financial center,” she pointed out.According to Lam, other measures that are currently effective in the country, such as the limit on the number of diners in restaurants, as well as the closure of gyms, bars, and massage parlors, will be relaxed starting from April 21. Based on the figures provided by Al Jazeera, nearly 71,000 people left Hong Kong in February, while about 54,000 people departed in March so far. Authorities in Hong Kong have kept in place strict entry rules and travel bans, following the example of other European countries, which have profoundly affected many industries. The travel and tourism sector has been among the most affected sectors by the preventive measures imposed to halt the further spread of the virus. However, the easing of the current restrictions will help the country’s industries recover from the damages caused by the virus.