Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health has announced new and updated Social Distancing Guidelines, Mandatory Testing Rules and Airport testing for those from High Risk Countries that are effective on November 16th at 0001hrs till November 26 at 2359hrs.
Restaurant and Bars:
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Restaurant dining hours will be from 0459-2359hrs.
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No more than 4 people may be seated on one table at restaurants.
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No more than 2 people may be seated at one table in bars, pubs and nightclubs.
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Masks must be worn when not drinking or eating.
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Bars and Restaurants will be required to only operate at 50 per cent of seating capacity.
Sportsgrounds:
- Masks must be worn when exercising indoors including public skating rinks except when here is a distance of 1.5 meters or doing exercises with little physical contact.
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Swimming pools will be limited to 50% Capacity.
Hotels and Guesthouses:
The government is looking to imposing new requirements that include:
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Limiting the number of guests in each room to no more than four persons. (Those living in the same household will be exempt).
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Requiring all visitors to guests rooms to register personal details with the hotel before going to visit a room.
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Temperature checks of all guests entering the hotel.
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Hotel and Guesthouses must arrange for cleaning and disinfection of all rooms after each check out.
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Make hand sanitizers available for all guests.
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If the hotel accepts quarantine guests, these guests must be separated on separate floors.
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The responsibility that quarantine guests do not leave their rooms during their quarantine period.
- In addition, the government is also looking to tightening the rule on deliveries for any person in quarantine.
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If the person in quarantine needs food or games or anything from home these items can be placed outside the door of the guest room on the basis there is no face to face contact.
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If the person in quarantine (such as a minor) requires the company of a carer (with prior permission from Department of Health), this person will be treated like a quarantined person. The carer will not be allowed to leave the room and must remain inside until the end of the quarantine period.
Group Gatherings:
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Group gatherings can not be more than 4 people.
Mask Wearing Requirement:
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There are no changes in the mask wearing rules.
Compulsory Testing Cap 599J:
This additionally gazetted caption allows the government the right to impose compulsory testing.
- This type of testing may be used to test persons who work or live in the same place as a confirmed person. The government may also use this regulation to test individuals who work in a particular occupation or even those to provide a day 12 test when arriving back in Hong Kong from abroad.
- Individuals who are required to be tested under 599J can either choose to be tested by the Department of Health or a private laboratory.
- Any person who does not comply with the testing notice will be fined HKD 2000.
- A further compulsory testing order will be issued for a person to be tested within a specific timeframe. Failure to comply will result in a fine of HKD 25,000 and 6 months imprisonment.
Arrivals from High Risk Countries:
- All persons including Aircrew arriving from countries designated as high risk must be tested for Covid-19 upon arriving in Hong Kong. Everyone from these countries including aircrew have to wait for their results at a location designated by the government.
High Risk Countries currently designated include:
- Bangladesh, Belgium, Ethiopia, France, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America
Banning of Flights:
- Currently, there is a rule set when 5 or more or 3 people on two flights test positive the government suspends the airline and flight for 2 weeks. Professor Chan said the government is looking at reviewing this rule and may change the threshold as well as the length of the ban. There has been no decision on this matter yet.