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Coronavirus: Hong Kong expects almost all cross-border truck drivers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by end of month
- Transport minister reveals 98 per cent of some 7,000 drivers have already had first dose
- Frank Chan hints that testing requirements could be eased further as a result of higher take-up rate
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Almost all of the roughly 7,000 cross-border truck drivers actively in business were expected to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by late April, Hong Kong’s transport minister said on Saturday, hinting that a higher inoculation rate could bring about a further relaxation of testing rules.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan revealed around 98 per cent of the drivers had already received their first doses by Thursday, while nearly 90 per cent, or 6,200 workers, were fully vaccinated.
The industry’s high jab rates came as the testing requirements for cross-border truck drivers who their second dose at least 14 days ago were relaxed from Friday.
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As part of the Hong Kong government’s so-called vaccine bubble scheme, which explicitly ties vaccination with relaxation of social distancing and quarantine-related requirements, inoculated drivers can be tested for the coronavirus every three days instead of on a daily basis.
Chan hoped rules could be relaxed further when the vaccination rates among truck drivers, and the overall population, increased.
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