Hong Kong to allow international travellers for first time since 2020

A pupil has her facts checked prior to taking the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education tests (HKDSE) as secondary faculties will resume experience-to-experience classes on May possibly 3, in Hong Kong, China April 22, 2022. Jerome Favre/Pool by way of REUTERS

HONG KONG, April 22 (Reuters) – Hong Kong will let non residents to enter the economical hub from Could for the initial time in more than two years, a modest stage in unwinding stringent coronavirus limitations which have turned the metropolis into just one of the world’s most isolated spots.

Hong Kong’s procedures for airways that have infected COVID-19 patients will also be eased somewhat, the federal government explained in a statement on Friday, with the threshold for suspending incoming flights rising to 5 contaminated travellers from a few currently.

A ban on individual airline routes will be shortened to five days from 7.

International travellers will be topic to the exact same procedure as residents, the governing administration said.

The announcement comes with daily infections under 1000 for extra than a week from a peak of additional than 70,000 on March 3.

Hong Kong’s borders have primarily been shut considering the fact that early 2020 with very couple flights and weeks long quarantine for arrivals.

Most flights at this time landing in Hong Kong, which prides by itself as the east-satisfies-west gateway, are from mainland China and a number of other Asian towns.

Eleven flight routes had been banned this week from airways including Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas, and KLM, according to authorities data. There have been extra than 70 flight bans so far this yr.

The previous British colony lifted a ban on flights arriving from nine international locations which include the U.S. and Britain on April 1 and slice quarantine for people to 7 times from 14, but the nevertheless stringent standards necessarily mean that few flights can run in what was when a person of the world’s busiest transit hubs.

Hong Kong has adopted mainland China in utilizing a “dynamic zero” coronavirus policy which aims to suppress all outbreaks.

Thousands of residents hoping to return to Hong Kong have been impacted by last moment cancellations, leaving them scrambling to come across choice routes although making sure they can secure their quarantine lodge place amid restricted supply.

Hong Kong reopened gyms, natural beauty parlours, concept parks and cinemas on Thursday for the initially time in a lot more than 4 months. browse much more

Reporting by Farah Master Enhancing by Kirsten Donovan

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Have confidence in Principles.