This suspension, which concerns all countries classified as “high risk” for health by the Hong Kong authorities, will take effect on Sunday for a period of one month.
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Passengers from 153 countries will no longer be able to transit through Hong Kong to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the city’s airport announced on Friday (January 14th). This suspension, which concerns all countries classified as “high risk” for health by the Hong Kong authorities, will take effect on Sunday for a period of one month. It aims to “control the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant”, said the airport.
Since January 8, Hong Kong has already prohibited access to its territory to any passenger who has stayed more than two hours in the last 21 days in eight countries (Australia, Canada, United States, France, India, Pakistan, Philippines, UK). Transit through Hong Kong airport will now be prohibited for people coming from all other countries deemed to be “high risk”. Entry to Hong Kong will remain possible for them, provided they are fully vaccinated and subject to 21 days of quarantine upon arrival.
Along with China, Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world to cling to the “zero Covid” strategy, consisting in avoiding the spread of the coronavirus on its territory at all costs and in a draconian policy of isolation of the sick. and contact cases. Many companies have reduced their flights to the city or stopped serving it, due to the long quarantines imposed on passengers and crew. This decision is also likely to have an impact on preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics, which begin on February 4. Many sports delegations had planned to change planes in Hong Kong to go to the Chinese capital.