The administration of Hong Kong has announced that, with effect from August 12, travellers will have to quarantine in designated hotels for only three days, compared with the three-week quarantine initially mandated. The current requirement is seven days’ quarantine in a government-controlled hotel.
While this may technically be an improvement on the current situation, there is a reason why the new quarantine regime is known as ‘3+4’. It turns out that after the initial three days and a negative PCR test, the passengers may continue onward to their non-quarantine hotel, or go home for another four days, during which they may have very limited contact with the world. It is styled very similarly to China’s ‘7+3’ protocol (seven days in a quarantine hotel, three at home).
The four days isolation is done under medical surveillance, during which the passengers need to undergo daily testing and are allowed minimal movement in Hong Kong, excluding restaurants, entertainment venues and bars. They will not be permitted to enter places that require the ‘Leave Home Safe’ app that residents use to show their vaccination status for entry to most public premises, such as restaurants and bars. Nor may they enter homes for the elderly and disabled persons or designated medical venues, or join any “mask-off” activities.
If travellers test negative daily through rapid kits during the four days, they can take public transport, attend work and go to shopping centres. Health officials have warned arrivals that PCR and Rapid Antigen (RAT) tests are stipulated under the law, and those who break the rule could be fined up to HK$25 000 (R53 000) or sentenced to six months in jail.
Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, added that authorities would have the personal details of those who had to take the tests. He said he was confident that most people would comply with the new rules. “We will also increase manpower at the airport, because with the ‘3+4’ policy, more people will be using the airport to travel in and out of Hong Kong.”
This is all taking place against the backdrop of increasing COVID cases in Hong Kong, with health officials warning that COVID-19 caseloads could double to 8 000 per day in the coming weeks.
Simultaneously, on August 12, Hong Kong will launch a two-colour health code. This too seems styled after the Chinese two-colour health code and, according to the CEO, will be linked to the ‘Leave Home Safe’ app.
Technology Secretary, Sun Dong, said, under the new policy, the ‘Leave Home Safe’ app had to be updated. Those infected would be issued a red code automatically, while those under home-based medical surveillance would get a yellow code. Incoming travellers have to download the software when they arrive in the city.
There was disappointment in the business community which had been hoping that the CEO would announce the abolition of the quarantine for arrivals into Hong Kong in his speech.
Hong Kong’s ever-popular international Rugby Sevens tournament is slated to take place from November 4-6 for the first time in three years, having been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to pandemic regulations.
According to Reuters, the tournament is intended to coincide with a major banking conference, which should be attended by top global banking executives, and which ought to be a signal to the world that Hong Kong is ready for business as usual.
Whether the rugby fans or the bankers will have the appetite for a week of restriction and surveillance as the prelude to their visit to Hong Kong remains to be seen.
Post-COVID, it is accepted that any form of quarantine or isolation is a travel passion killer.
