Hong Kong government extends new travel restrictions to aircrew but exemptions still apply
- Flight attendants concerned over infection risk on aircraft with crew allowed to work even when they should be in isolation
- Department of Health extends mandatory quarantine or medical surveillance coming into force on Thursday to aircrew, though opt-outs are available
Hong Kong will extend its new travel restrictions to aircrew, the Department of Health says, meaning pilots and flight attendants will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine on arrival from abroad but can fly out earlier as long as their airlines follow set procedures.
However, a flight attendants’ union and crew members warned the coronavirus arrangements risked endangering the safety of passengers and staff as infected personnel would be able to work when they should be isolated.
On-board protections against Covid-19’s spread were also not enough, some members said.
The new procedures for flight crew came to light after the city announced the introduction from Thursday of a red travel alert covering all countries, which imposes quarantine or medical surveillance on all arrivals into Hong Kong, and as a third Cathay Pacific crew member tested positive for the virus.
Crew members have been exempted from quarantine since the city first enforced the mandatory measures on arrivals from mainland China, before extending it to other countries in Asia and more recently in Europe.
Given the latest developments, the spokesman from the Department of Health on Tuesday night confirmed there was a change of policy “taking into consideration public health assessment and normal operation of international traffic”.
Air crew who had travelled to affected areas two weeks before arrival in Hong Kong – irrespective of whether they are city residents – would have to undergo the 14-day quarantine.