For people who have received two doses of the vaccine within 14 days, have a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, and return to Hong Kong from low-risk countries and regions, the mandatory quarantine period will be reduced to seven days. Low-risk countries and regions include Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United States.
The shortened hotel quarantine period will be implemented from June 30. By July 30, vaccinated foreign visitors will also be required to quarantine for only seven days. Currently, visitors to Hong Kong are still required to quarantine in hotels for 21 days.
This is part of the process of easing social restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong government. As of June 21, Hong Kong has gone 2 weeks without recording any new Covid-19 cases.
Director of the Department of Health and Food Tran Trieu Thuy (Sofia Chan) said that restaurants will be allowed to relax the maximum number of people per table to 12, the maximum number of people attending weddings will be 180 people but at least two-thirds of the guests attending the party have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Bars and nightclubs have been relaxed to four people per table, banquet halls and karaoke bars have been relaxed to eight people, and the number of people in mahjong parlors and other entertainment establishments has also been increased. At fitness centers, if everyone there has been vaccinated and maintains adequate distance, they can exercise without wearing masks. However, the gathering restriction order still maintains the four-person rule.
The Hong Kong government says vaccination rates in the city remain low and “not ideal.” Despite ample vaccine supplies, only 17% of Hong Kong residents have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
By comparison, the vaccination rate in Singapore is up to 34.9%. In London (UK), the vaccination rate is 36.1%.
