Explainer | Hong Kong is stepping up Covid fight by issuing electronic wristbands, quarantining outbound travellers. Here’s what you need to know

Name: Covid-19 still a global health emergency, says WHO as new Omicron subvariants emerge
Uploaded: 2022-07-15T01:15:19.000Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
Description: Covid-19 still a global health emergency, says WHO as new Omicron subvariants emerge

People under home quarantine will need to wear electronic wristbands while those who test positive at mainland border will be sent to isolation centres right away

Health chief Lo Chung-mau says he will approach pandemic with targeted measures to prevent repeat of fifth wave of infections

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The new wristbands to be worn by people quarantining at home. Photo: SCMP

Sammy Heung

Published: 9:15am, 15 Jul 2022

The new Hong Kong government, now into its third week, has introduced measures to step up monitoring of Covid-19 patients on two fronts, requiring those under home quarantine to wear electronic wristbands and outbound travellers who test positive at the border with mainland China to be sent to isolation centres right away.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau has said he will approach the pandemic with targeted measures to prevent a repeat of the fifth and deadliest wave of infections, rather than return to tightened social-distancing rules.

Here’s what you need to know about the two latest moves, as well as plans in the pipeline.

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Covid-19 still a global health emergency, says WHO as new Omicron subvariants emerge

1. Who will get an electronic wristband, and how?

From Friday, people who report their positive Covid-19 test results to the authorities and are required to undergo home quarantine will need to wear an electronic wristband.

Health authorities will hand out the wristband along with a parcel of quarantine necessities, including masks and self-test kits, after the patient signs up for home isolation.

Staff from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will help the patient and confirm the wristband’s activation. Patients must not leave their household area.

A photo provided by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau shows a QR code printed on the watch-like plastic wristband. Words and terms including “Stay Home Safe” and “scan” are written above the code.