Hong Kong Extends Mandatory Quarantine To 21 Days Amidst Discovery Of New Covid-19 Strain

Hong Kong has extended the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to three weeks involving almost all international tourists and visitors starting today (25 December 2020). The move was implemented to prevent the new strain of Covid-19 which is reported to have a higher infection rate to spread further.

According to the government, as reported by The Straits Times, a group of experts expects the incubation period for the virus to be more than 14 days for some patients. Therefore, visitors from outside need to undergo mandatory quarantine at the hotel facilities reserved for three weeks compared to the previous two weeks.

Only visitors arriving from Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan are exempted from the stricter restrictions. The government has also announced a ban on any visitors in South Africa within the last 21 days from entering Hong Kong. The new variant of Covid-19, which is believed to have a higher rate of infection, is spreading in South Africa causing some other countries to enforce a ban on visitors from that country.

Since Tuesday, flights from Britain have also been banned in Hong Kong, following the discovery of a new Covid-19 strain in the country.

Also read: Health D-G: “10-day quarantine doesn’t make much difference from 14-day quarantine”