Hong Kong’s Labour Department announced that once inbound foreign domestic helpers complete their three-day hotel quarantine, they can stay at their employers’ homes during the four-day medical surveillance period. The new measures will come into force on August 12, which is also when the city’s 3+4 quarantine arrangement for international arrivals will take effect.
According to a government press release, foreign domestic workers who enter Hong Kong must spend the first three nights after their arrival in the city at a designated quarantine hotel. They must then spend the remaining four days under medical surveillance at their employers’ homes, at licensed guesthouses or non-quarantine hotels.
Foreign domestic helpers will be subject to the same testing, vaccine pass and health code requirements that the government announced for overseas travellers earlier this week. They must get tested at the airport and on Day 2 via PCR after they arrive. If they test negative on their Day 2 test, they can leave their quarantine hotel the following morning and begin their medical surveillance period at their employers’ residences.
Once they begin their four-day medical surveillance, foreign domestic helpers can begin working at their employers’ homes. They will also be issued an amber code on the LeaveHomeSafe app that will prevent them from going to areas such as bars, pubs, beauty parlours and religious establishments. They must also undergo PCR tests on Days 4, 6 and 9 after they arrive, as well as take rapid antigen tests every day until Day 10.
From August 12, foreign domestic helpers must also fill out a health declaration and quarantine information form before they depart for Hong Kong, and get a QR code that they must present to staff when they check in for their flights. Those who arrived in Hong Kong between August 3 and August 8 are also eligible for early discharge from their quarantine hotels, starting August 9.
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