HONG KONG: Hong Kong has constricted coronavirus travel restrictions despite no significant outbreaks in the territory in the past two months. This is being done to support the Chinese mainland and bring their policies closer, said Carrie Lam, Chief Executive and Leader of the territory.
Some of the guidelines include increasing contact tracing through apps like LeaveHomeSafe, especially near government buildings, to record the travelling visitors. Quarantine rules will also be strengthened, with the only exceptions to the rules being emergency workers or essential industry workers.
Hong Kong has not suffered any massive eruptions in cases since this year started. But it has been relatively closed off to international travel, with those coming in from high-risk nations such as the US having to observe a 21-day isolation period.
“Hong Kong will now go even further. Suppose Hong Kong were to relax border controls for overseas travelers or emulate other nations trying to coexist with the Covid-19 virus. In that case, it could lead to reduced chances of travel with the mainland resuming”, said Lam, while trying to urge China’s leaders to reinstate mainland travelling.
The Chinese government has upheld a zero-tolerance policy for the pandemic, using compulsory testing, quarantines and lockdowns to curb out Covid-19 outbreaks quickly.