Foreign domestic helpers entering HK to undergo a ‘3+4’ quarantine starting August 12

Under the model, workers will be quarantined for three nights in designated hotels.

Foreign domestic helpers entering Hong Kong from 12 August will be required to undergo a ‘3+4’ quarantine, the Labour Department announced.

Under the ‘3+4’ model, the workers will be quarantined in hotels for three nights, and under medical surveillance at their employer’s houses for four days. Their arrival date will be considered day zero of their quarantine.

Employers can also choose to arrange for their helpers to stay at licensed hotels or guesthouses that are not designated quarantine hotels to complete the four days of medical surveillance.

Upon arrival, domestic helpers will also need to undergo a nucleic acid test. During their quarantine period, they will be subject to daily rapid antigen tests (RATs) and must undergo a nucleic acid test on day two.

“Those who test negative consecutively will be deemed as having completed the compulsory quarantine in the morning of day three,” said the government.

During the four-day medical surveillance, they will also undergo daily RATs. Within this period, they will also be allowed to work at their employers’ residences.

“After obtaining negative RAT results on day four and day six upon arrival at Hong Kong, they are required to undergo nucleic acid tests on the same days at a community testing centre or mobile specimen collection station. They may also arrange a self-paid test at a local medical institution recognised by the Government,” the government explained.

Once tested negative, they will be allowed to go out, take public transportation, and enter supermarkets and markets, but they will be subject to amber code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass.

This means they cannot enter high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities, and other premises requiring key protection.

Meanwhile, those who test negative consecutively will be deemed as having completed the medical surveillance on the morning of day seven upon arrival in the city.

“Helpers are then subject to self-monitoring during the subsequent three days and must undergo daily RATs until day 10. They are also required to take their last nucleic acid test on day nine,” added the government.  

Helpers who have completed at least three nights of quarantine in designated hotels before August 12 and have tested negative can leave their respective hotels.

“Thereafter, the helpers are subject to medical surveillance at home, amber code restrictions as well as compliance with the above testing requirements,” the government said.