Hong Kong’s 21-day hotel quarantine forcing those confined to get creative to stay in shape
- The government’s three-week hotel quarantine for all arrivals has forced those cooped up to find different ways to stay fit
- Ovolo Hotel’s Sonesh Mool says workout equipment is one of the biggest requests they are getting on a regular basis
Mojo Nomad Aberdeen Harbour was the first of the Ovolo hotels to get on the quarantine list, said Mool, before it was increased from 14 to 21 days on December 25. Now they have Ovolo Southside, which has 161 rooms, on the 21-day list. Mool said he has learned a lot about quarantiners’ needs.
“We’re always looking at ways to keep them engaged, because 21 days is a long time,” said Mool, who has seen nearly 3,000 quarantiners come through their four hotels. “I’ve noticed the top request is wellness and keeping fit, and trying to eat healthy.”
Anyone coming into Hong Kong, outside of the Chinese mainland and Macau, is required by the government to stay in a hotel for 21 days, and foot the bill themselves. Previously, people were required to spend 14 days in their flat, then 14 days in a hotel. Quarantiners are not allowed outside their rooms, and in Hong Kong where square footage is a luxury, many have found themselves in tough and tight conditions.