Coronavirus: Hong Kong bans travel from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines after second local case of mutant strain; city confirms 30 new infections
- Two-week entry ban applies to all people from three nations, which are now categorised as ‘extremely high risk’
- Anyone from those countries already quarantined in Hong Kong must get tested on their 26th day in the city under emergency measures
Authorities ramped up warnings of a potential surge in infections amid an ongoing investigation into the source of the strain’s introduction into the community.
The move came as the city confirmed 30 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, 29 of which were imported. The new infections were the most recorded in a single day since March 15, taking the total case tally to 11,683, with 209 related deaths. About 10 preliminary-positive cases were also logged.
All flights and people travelling from the three countries are to be banned from Tuesday, meaning India, Pakistan, and the Philippines are now classed as areas of “extremely high risk”. The move was similar to action taken against Britain last Christmas, and anyone who has spent more than two hours in those three countries is also banned.
People already in quarantine in Hong Kong from those three nations will be ordered to take a further test on the 26th day after arriving in the city.
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Health officials had earlier moved to ban Cathay Pacific’s Manila flights, and India’s Vistara services from Mumbai, for two weeks until May 2 after a number of passengers were found to be Covid-19 positive upon arriving in Hong Kong.