Coronavirus: Hong Kong making it mandatory for all local aircrew to receive Covid-19 booster shots

Authorities will also require those who operate cargo flights to be tested daily for Covid-19 and placed under stricter monitoring at outports

Tougher measures are in response to two Cathay Pacific cargo pilots testing positive for coronavirus two days earlier

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Two Cathay Pacific cargo crew tested positive for the coronavirus in Hong Kong this week. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:16pm, 12 Nov 2021Updated: 11:58pm, 12 Nov 2021

Hong Kong is making it mandatory for all local aircrew to receive Covid-19 booster shots, while requiring those who operate cargo flights to be tested daily and placed under stricter monitoring at outports.

The tougher measures were announced on Friday night in response to two Cathay Pacific cargo crew testing positive for the coronavirus two days earlier, sparking concerns that such a potential loophole could jeopardise the city’s efforts to match mainland China’s zero-infection policy in order to achieve a much sought-after border reopening.

The Transport and Housing Bureau said all local aircrew would now be required to receive their third dose of vaccines, while on-site personnel would be assigned to monitor cargo crew layovers at outports and ensure they complied with requirements minimising their exposure to communities overseas.

Travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport wait to be transported to quarantine hotels. Photo: Nora Tam

Local cargo crew would have to be tested daily instead of every three days, and their movements in the city would be subjected to “more stringent restrictions … with a view to minimising their contact with the local community”, the bureau said.

It said it had met the aviation industry in the wake of the infections and had urged airlines to carry out the measures as soon as possible.