Explainer | Everything you need to know about Hong Kong’s new Covid-19 regime as city moves to its lowest precaution level since the pandemic hit
- Lowest level of restrictions since the pandemic hit explained after government moves closer to return to normal life
- ‘0+0’ rules outlined: what people can enjoy, and the restrictions still faced, after they arrive in the city
Hong Kong on Tuesday announced the biggest easing of its Covid-19 regime since the pandemic hit almost three years ago, including allowing arrivals who test negative free movement and an end to the use of the “Leave Home Safe” risk-exposure app.
Moving from a much-criticised “0+3” Covid-19 entry rule – where inbound travellers had to undergo three days of home medical surveillance – to a much-anticipated “0+0” approach, here is the ultimate guide to what people can enjoy and the restrictions they still face after arriving in the city.
1. Why is the government scrapping the three-day surveillance period?
Hong Kong axed the “0+3” arrangement, enforced since September 26, after statistics from the past month showed only 1.6 per cent, or 16 out of 1,000 travellers, tested positive after leaving the airport, lower than the 2.5 per cent detected from testing in the community.
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday highlighted the decreased danger imported infections posed to the public.
“The decisions were based on data and risks. The infection risk from imported cases is lower than the risk from local infections. We believe that the lifting [of the measures] will not increase the risk of local outbreaks,” he said.
2. How will “0+0” benefit travellers?
Airport arrivals would be given an amber code previously – even if they tested negative – on their temporary vaccine passes for three days, which prevented them from entering a list of “mask-off” venues, including restaurants and bars, under a citywide vaccine pass scheme.
But from Wednesday, travellers that test negative on arrival will immediately get a blue code, which means they are free to roam in the city right after they leave the airport.