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Carrie Lam orders another round of coronavirus testing for Hong Kong’s domestic helpers, pulls plug on mandatory vaccination plan
- Philippine consul general questions logic of employers living in the same home not facing compulsory screening requirement
- Chief executive also announces return to face-to-face classes at all local schools from May 24 on half-day basis
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Hong Kong’s leader has ordered another round of compulsory Covid-19 testing for the city’s 370,000 foreign domestic workers, but has withdrawn a mandatory vaccination plan after discussions with consulates.
The U-turn came as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday said the city’s coronavirus situation had stabilised after a fourth day of zero local infections. She announced that schools would resume face-to-face classes on a half-day basis from May 24.
Speaking ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam also apologised for the chaotic arrangements experienced by residents forced into mandatory quarantine over the weekend.
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“The [helper vaccination] policy has aroused a lot of concerns, so after evaluation based on public health and taking into consideration the fact that other countries are still not asking for mandatory vaccinations … as well as the legal risks of such a plan, the government has decided not to request mandatory vaccination when helpers renew their contracts,” she said.
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Lam added that another round of mandatory testing would be required for all domestic helpers soon, though those who had been vaccinated would be exempted. The new round of testing will start on Saturday with a screening deadline of May 30.
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