The isolation period for confirmed Covid-19 patients and their close contacts will be reduced to five days, starting December 9, as long as they produce negative rapid antigen test (RAT) results on Days 4 and 5 after they enter Hong Kong. This will apply to anyone in the city who contracts the virus, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not, said Undersecretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, at a press conference on Thursday.
In addition, those who contract Covid-19 and their close contacts must self-administer RATs for five days. This new five-day RAT requirement will also apply to overseas travellers who arrive in the city. However, inbound travellers must continue to undergo PCR tests at the airport upon arrival and on Day 2 after they land in the city, and get a health code as part of their three-day post-arrival medical surveillance period.
Currently, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong must isolate for a minimum of seven days. Those who are vaccinated may leave their homes, the hospital, or quarantine facility if they produce negative RAT results on two consecutive days, starting on Day 6 after they first test positive for the virus. However, those who are unvaccinated must remain under isolation for at least 14 days.
Header image credits: Jamie Lloyd via Flickr
