Coronavirus: can Hongkongers finally ditch their masks by summer? Not so fast, health experts say

Hong Kong not ready to ditch mask mandate because of crowded living environment, low three-dose vaccination rate, negotiations on reopening mainland border, experts say

Striking an optimistic note, infectious diseases expert recently said public would be able to go mask-free outdoors in summer given epidemic situation

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It is mandatory to wear a mask in most public places in Hong Kong.
Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 8:00am, 24 May 2022Updated: 8:30am, 24 May 2022

The hopes of many Hongkongers to be able to remove their masks in more public places seemed to take a step closer to reality recently when some medical experts floated the idea of beginning a gradual resumption of normal life in the summer.

While regional rival Singapore dropped its outdoor mask-wearing requirement in late March, an overseas study also pointed to potential negative impacts of face coverings and called for a more targeted use of them.

But leading government pandemic advisers told the Post the city was not yet ready to ditch its mask mandate because of the crowded living environment, a low three-dose vaccination rate and negotiations with mainland China on reopening the border, with one expert saying the rules could not be relaxed until early next year.

Professor Ivan Hung. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hopes were raised after Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, an infectious diseases expert from the University of Hong Kong, struck an optimistic tone that the public would be able to go mask-free outdoors in the summer given the city’s epidemic development.

It is mandatory to wear a mask on public transport and in public places aside from country parks and when running or exercising at sports venues, both outdoors and indoors.

Hong Kong’s daily Covid-19 caseload has remained stable all month, hovering around 200 to 300 per day.

But government pandemic adviser Professor David Hui Shu-cheong said Hong Kong’s crowded environment made the situation not comparable with other places.