Government strengthens inbound control measures in view of Omicron cases

     The Government announced today (December 2) that in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Finland, Ghana, Korea, Norway and Saudi Arabia will be specified as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 5 and the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers will be tightened. The Government will also require all transit passengers from overseas places and Taiwan to present negative result proof of nucleic acid test when boarding a flight for Hong Kong from 0.00am on December 8.

Boarding and quarantine requirements tightened for places with Omicron cases detected
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     The Government earlier announced that as a preventive measure, the Government would specify places which have detected imported Omicron cases as Group A specified places. Noting that the detection of imported Omicron cases was confirmed in Finland, Ghana, Korea, Norway and Saudi Arabia, the Government will specify these places as Group A specified places from 0.00am on December 5. Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed there within 21 days are not allowed to enter Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised vaccination record. They have to undergo compulsory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel for 21 days upon return to Hong Kong, with six tests to be conducted during quarantine, followed by compulsory testing in a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong.

     Details on the relevant boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for respective specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.
 
Additional boarding and testing requirements for transit passengers
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     In order to further enhance the management of transit passengers and surveillance on the virus, from 0.00am on December 8, the Government will require all passengers who board a flight from overseas places and Taiwan for transit at Hong Kong to present at boarding a negative result proof of a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid (PCR) test for COVID-19 with specimen collected within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure. The relevant requirement is the same as the pre-departure test requirement for inbound travellers who take Hong Kong as their destination.

     In addition, to minimise the chance of cross-infection with other outbound travellers for overseas places, the Government has recommended the Airport Authority to further tighten the arrangements for transit passengers during their stay in the Hong Kong International Airport, including stepping up the infection control measures for places within the airport restricted area where transit passengers may have access to, and tighten the segregation arrangements for transit passengers who require long waiting time for connecting flights.

     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures.