Hong Kong: Authorities further ease some restrictions September 18 /update 40

Authorities announce further easing of some restrictions from September 18; follow official 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 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 Europe and other countries March 17, 19 /update 14
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
Hong Kong authorities announce bars, swimming pools, convention centers, and theme parks will be permitted to open from Friday, September 18, as they further ease some restrictions following a mass coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing program. Reports indicate that a 14-day mainland China-led mass testing program screened approximately 1.8 million people with only 42 infections found, including five cases through contact tracing. New daily cases have dropped to low single or double digits from triple digits in July and no new local cases were reported on Tuesday, September 15.
Authorities recently reopened indoor recreation and entertainment facilities, including gyms, sports centers, massage parlors, and game centers, and increased the number of people allowed to gather in public to up to four. Venues must ensure social distancing measures and hygiene measures are observed. Restaurants are permitted to seat groups of four people at a time. From September 18, restaurants and catering businesses, will be permitted to open until midnight for an initial seven days at a 50 percent capacity. Similarly, bars and pubs will be permitted to reopen until midnight and at a 50 percent capacity, with no more than two people sitting together. Swimming pools will also be required to operate at half capacity. Visits to public beaches remain banned. Face masks remain mandatory for all to wear in all public outdoor areas, on public transport, and in most indoor public areas.
Some business facilities have reopened following enhanced social distancing and hygiene practices, though it remains encouraged for employees in the public and private sector to work from home. Schools remain closed, however, in-person classes are scheduled to resume from September 23.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has reopened with some transit flights also permitted. Transit flights from mainland China are permitted, if grouped in a single booking and the connection time is less than 24 hours, however transit flights to mainland China remain prohibited. Land border crossings with mainland China remain restricted; authorized travelers are permitted entry at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Shenzhen Bay checkpoint only. Non-resident foreign nationals remain restricted in entering the territory. Travelers from Macau, Taiwan, and mainland China can enter Hong Kong, provided they have no recent travel history elsewhere. Hong Kong has designated Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, and the US as high risk. Permitted passengers arriving from these locations must provide certain documents, including proof of negative COVID-19 results from a test taken within 72 hours prior to departure and a hotel booking for the quarantine period. Passengers will be testing upon and arrival and be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
As of Thursday, September 17, there have been 4984 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong and 102 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.
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). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.
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 nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 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, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
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