Travellers take the first train to Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau border checkpoint on the first day China reopens the border amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong, China, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
Hong Kong will stop requiring people infected with Covid to isolate as the government seeks to revive the economy.
The isolation order will be lifted from Jan. 30, the city’s leader John Lee told lawmakers on Thursday in a surprise announcement.
Hong Kong has now abandoned virtually all its Covid restrictions with the exception of the mandatory wearing of masks. Anticipation is building over when the city will drop the mask mandate, a visual reminder of the pandemic era.
The city’s health chief Lo Chung-Mau will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. local time, according to a government statement. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun will also attend.
Lee said the city has a "very sound barrier of immunity” and Covid will be managed like any other upper respiratory disease.
"Our understanding of COVID-19 and how to deal with it has been greatly enhanced,” Lee said. "As a result, the government’s management approach will have to change.”
The city’s government is planning to end mandatory mask wearing in March or April, Ming Pao reported this week, citing unidentified people. The mask rule was imposed in July 2020 and failure to wear one in public can result in a HK$5,000 ($640) fine.
Hong Kong is planning an aggressive publicity campaign to showcase its strengths to the world as well as hold a series of events, Lee said.
Natixis SA estimates Hong Kong’s economy lost $27 billion in potential growth due to the effects of the pandemic and the city’s strict Covid curbs
