Hong Kong Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, confirmed that the government will reduce the mandatory hotel quarantine period for international arrivals. In an interview with the Hong Kong Economic Journal, Lee also said that close contacts of confirmed local Covid-19 patients may get issued a yellow health code to prevent them from going to high-risk areas in the city.
Reports over the past few weeks have stated that the government will change the existing seven-day minimum hotel isolation period to a week-long hotel-and-home quarantine arrangement. However, the CE said that the authorities still need to analyse certain data before they can announce specific details about the new regulations.
Lee added the new two-colour health code could be extended to close contacts of patients who contract the virus within the SAR. While confirmed patients will get a red code, their close contacts will probably get a yellow code, which will also be given to international arrivals under home quarantine to prevent them from entering high-risk venues like pubs and restaurants.
The CE also stated that the city’s current social distancing measures will not be greatly relaxed even if the daily case count reduces. The existing regulations include several restrictions on dining and nightlife venues, such as seating and capacity limits, a ban on live performances and dancing, and restrictions regarding opening hours.
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