The Hong Kong government has relaxed the quarantine period for arrivals from overseas and Taiwan, from 7 days to “3+4” (hotel isolation and home medical surveillance). The Director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lu Chongmao, said on a radio program this morning (13th) that following the shortening of the hotel quarantine period, the supply of quarantine hotels has increased, and the number of arrivals in Hong Kong is expected to increase by 60 to 80%. As for whether the quarantine period will be changed to “0+7”, he said it would depend on the data and the development of the epidemic, emphasizing the need for gradual progress.
Lu pointed out that the overall operation of the new quarantine arrangement is smooth, and the change to “3+4” is not to relax epidemic prevention, but to reduce costs. Some employers of foreign domestic helpers want to choose to allow their domestic helpers to complete the 7-day quarantine in hotels. Lu said that since quarantine persons are restricted from traveling by law, if medical surveillance personnel continue to stay in hotels, it will be difficult to arrange arrangements, stressing that there is no flexibility in quarantine hotel arrangements.
Regarding the wrong color of the vaccine passport, Lu pointed out that problems will inevitably arise in the early stage of the implementation of the new technology, and there are already ways to solve it for the public. He went on to say that “yellow code” people are not allowed to enter the premises where they need to check and travel safely. If they work in a restaurant, they can continue to work at the place of work, but they cannot enter the restaurant as a customer, emphasizing the difference between “work” and “customer”. definition. He advised yellow code employees to eat alone to reduce the risk of transmission. Lu reminded those with “yellow codes” that visiting friends’ homes is also a violation of medical surveillance requirements. As for business people hoping that the authorities will allow people with “yellow codes” to enter the exhibition venue, Lu responded that they need to consider the flow of people and data at the event. Depending on whether there is a risk of spreading the business, he will also re-examine the scope of premises involving “yellow codes” in response to the epidemic.
