Hong Kong: Mandatory quarantine for travelers from Europe and other countries March 17, 19 /update 14

Government orders quarantine for travelers from Europe, Egypt, and several Asian countries as of March 17, 19; monitor government directives
Read all related news alert(s):
Hong Kong: Government increases COVID-19 restrictive measures from December 2 /update 44
Hong Kong: Travel Bubble with Singapore postponed until December 6 /update 43
Hong Kong: Authorities to ease COVID-19 restrictions from October 30 /update 42
Hong Kong: Authorities add UK to list of high-risk travel countries from October 1 /update 41
Hong Kong: Authorities further ease some restrictions September 18 /update 40
Hong Kong: Authorities to ease restrictions on public gatherings September 11 /update 39
Hong Kong: Some COVID-19 measures extended until August 25 /update 38
Hong Kong: Authorities extend social distancing requirements through August 11 /update 37
Hong Kong: Authorities announce increased COVID-19 restrictions from July 29 /update 36
Hong Kong: Authorities extend mandatory wearing of face masks until August 6 /update 35
Hong Kong: Authorities to introduce new entry restrictions on July 25 /update 34
Hong Kong: Authorities tighten COVID-19 restrictions on July 19 /update 33
Hong Kong: Authorities tighten COVID-19 restrictions July 14 /update 32
Hong Kong: Schools to close on July 13 amid new COVID-19 outbreak /update 31
Hong Kong: Ban on gatherings of more than 50 people extended until July 14 as other COVID-19 measures eased /update 30
Hong Kong: Gatherings of up to 50 people permitted from June 19 /update 29
Hong Kong: Authorities extend travel restrictions June 2 /update 28
Hong Kong: Hong Kong International Airport to resume transit services from June 1 amid COVID-19 pandemic /update 27
Hong Kong: Authorities extend COVID-19 gatherings restrictions to June 4 /update 26
Hong Kong: Authorities to announce relaxation of public gathering rules on May 5 /update 25
Hong Kong: Restrictions on travel from mainland China to be eased April 29 /update 24
Hong Kong: Social distancing measures extended to May 7 /update 23
Hong Kong: HK Express extends flight suspensions through June 18 due to COVID-19 /update 22
Hong Kong: Authorities extend social distancing measures until April 23 /update 21
Hong Kong: Government extends entry ban on non-residents April 6 /update 20
Hong Kong: Authorities enact stricter social distancing measures April 3 /update 19
Hong Kong: Authorities order additional venue closures for 14 days April 1 /update 18
Hong Kong: Government bans public gatherings from March 29 /update 17
Hong Kong: Government closes borders to all non-residents from March 25 /update 16
Hong Kong: Government orders mandatory home-quarantine for all travelers March 17 /update 15
Hong Kong: Mandatory quarantine for travelers from five countries March 10 /update 13
Hong Kong: Authorities introduce additional measures to contain COVID-19 spread March 1 /update 12
Hong Kong: Authorities bar non-resident arrivals from South Korea to contain COVID-19 spread February 25 /update 11
Hong Kong: Health official announces second coronavirus-related fatality February 19 /update 10
Hong Kong: Government extends school closures until March 16 due to COVID-19 /update 9
Hong Kong: Protests reported over quarantine center locations February 8-11 /update 8
Hong Kong: Government to place all mainland China arrivals into home quarantine due to 2019-nCoV February 5 /update 7
Hong Kong: Medical workers continue to strike February 5 /update 6
Hong Kong: First coronavirus (2019-nCoV) death recorded in Hong Kong February 4 /update 5
Hong Kong: Almost all border crossings with mainland China close February 3 /update 4
Hong Kong: Public health workers begin coronavirus-related strike February 3 /update 3
Hong Kong: Public transportation suspended as of January 30 due to coronavirus 2019-nCoV January 28 /update 2
Hong Kong: Authorities block residents of Hubei province from entering HKSAR January 26 /update 1
Hong Kong: Maximum health warning level implemented January 25
Event
The Hong Kong government expanded its entry restrictions to require mandatory 14-day home quarantine for travelers from 31 countries. From 00:00 (local time) on Tuesday, March 17, all individuals traveling from South Korea and the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) will be required to undergo a 14-day home-quarantine. Similarly, from 00:00 on Thursday, March 19, individuals from Ireland, the UK, the US, and Egypt will also be required to undergo a 14-day home-quarantine. Meanwhile, individuals that have traveled from Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do in South Korea, Iran, or the Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a designated facility. Foreign nationals that have traveled to Hubei province (China) or South Korea in the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to Hong Kong will be denied entry to the territory.
A previous directive implemented on Saturday, March 14, had ordered 14-day home-quarantine for travelers from Italy, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est (France), North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), Hokkaido (Japan), and La Rioja, Madrid, and Basque Country (Spain). Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, March 10, that the measures and travel restrictions in place are being reviewed on an almost daily basis, and warned that more restrictions are possible in the near term.
Authorities previously announced that schools will remain closed until Monday, April 20, at the earliest.
As of March 17, Hong Kong has confirmed 148 cases of COVID-19 and four associated fatalities. Further international spread of COVID-19 is expected in the coming days and weeks.
Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the risk of spread and the risk of impact of the virus is "very high" at the global level.
Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.
Advice
Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly, and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone non-essential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
- Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
- If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.
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