HK tightens border control anew amidst Delta variant threats

This followed findings on the higher transmissibility of the virus.

The Hong Kong government will be tightening its border control measures, starting 20 August, amidst the growing threat of the Delta variant of COVID-19.  

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases raised that due to the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant, it is rapidly spreading across the globe.

After reviewing the data on imported cases involving fully vaccinated persons, It was recommended that the compulsory quarantine period can only be shortened to 14 days at most, even if the persons arriving at Hong Kong were fully vaccinated and possess positive serology antibody test results.

The government will also enhance testing arrangements, increasing the number of post-arrival tests for relevant groups to at least six times during the quarantine and self-monitoring periods.

Persons who have stayed in high-risk areas 21 days before their arrival in Hong Kong will need to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days and six tests during compulsory quarantine.

They will also need to self-monitor for the subsequent seven days; and undergo compulsory testing in a CTC on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong.

Hong Kong residents who have been in medium-risk places will undergo 21 days of quarantine and six tests during this period.

Non-Hong Kong residents who hold vaccinated records that are not recognized by the government will not be allowed to enter.

Moreover, fully vaccinated individuals, both residents and non-residents, will be required to quarantine for 14 days and take four tests. The same will apply to those who are coming from low-risk areas.

The quarantine period will be further shortened to seven days for fully vaccinated individuals coming from low-risk areas.

Find out more here.