Tag: Wuhan virus

Government Further Tightens Social Distancing Measures – 21 November

Today the government updated the gazetted directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to further tighten social distancing measures. The updated directions will take effect at 0.00am on November 22 and last for 5 days

The details of the updated tightening measures are as follows:

  1. Live performance and dancing must not be allowed in any catering premises (including bars or pubs) as well as clubs or nightclubs.
  2. Premises (commonly known as party rooms) that are maintained or intended to be maintained for hire for holding social gatherings must be closed.

Persons responsible for carrying on catering businesses and managers of scheduled premises that contravene the statutory requirements under Cap. 599F would have committed a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

The full government press release can be read here.

Attached is a summary of the latest measures that relate to catering business and scheduled premises

[gview file=”https://www.bcmagazine.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/summary-of-restriction-21-nov-2020.pdf”]

Update on Social Distancing Guidelines…

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:

  • Restaurant dining hours will be from 0459-2359hrs.

  • No more than 4 people may be seated on one table at restaurants.

  • No more than 2 people may be seated at one table in bars, pubs and nightclubs.

  • Masks must be worn when not drinking or eating.

  • 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.

  • Swimming pools will be limited to 50% Capacity.

Hotels and Guesthouses:

The government is looking to imposing new requirements that include:

  • Limiting the number of guests in each room to no more than four persons. (Those living in the same household will be exempt).

  • Requiring all visitors to guests rooms to register personal details with the hotel before going to visit a room.

  • Temperature checks of all guests entering the hotel.

  • Hotel and Guesthouses must arrange for cleaning and disinfection of all rooms after each check out.

  • Make hand sanitizers available for all guests.

  • If the hotel accepts quarantine guests, these guests must be separated on separate floors.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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:
  • Group gatherings can not be more than 4 people.
Mask Wearing Requirement:
  • 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. 

UK Added To Wuhan Virus High Risk Travel Countries

From 1 October, 2020 the UK will become a ‘High Risk’ country and people flying into Hong Kong from the UK will need to provide a -ve COVID test and quarantine in a hotel.

The UK becomes the tenth High Risk country listed under Cap 599H,  joining Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and the United States of America.

The travel requirements under Cap599H are:

A traveller who, on the day on which the traveller boarded a civil aviation aircraft that arrives at, or is about to arrive at Hong Kong (specified aircraft), or during the 14 days before that day, has stayed in one of the aforementioned specified places must provide the following documents:

(1) A test report in English or Chinese issued by a laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller identical to that in his or her valid travel document to show that:

(a) the relevant traveller underwent a nucleic acid test for COVID-19, the sample for which was taken from the relevant traveller within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the specified aircraft;

(b) the test conducted on the sample is a nucleic acid test for COVID-19; and

(c) the result of the test is that the relevant traveller was tested negative for COVID-19; and

(2) If the relevant report is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information, a written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by the laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller identical to that in his or her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the test report; and

(3) Documentary proof in English or Chinese to show that the laboratory or healthcare institution is ISO 15189 accredited or is recognised or approved by the relevant authority of the government of the place in which the laboratory or healthcare institution is located; and

(4) The relevant traveller has confirmation in English or Chinese of room reservation in a hotel in Hong Kong for not less than 14 days starting on the day of the arrival of the relevant traveller in Hong Kong.

If a traveller coming to Hong Kong fails to comply with a requirement to provide information, or knowingly or recklessly provides any information that is false or misleading in a material particular, he or she is liable on conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Bars, Karaoke Reopen Today

Glorious leader comrade Lam, she who is in charge and responsible for all things Hong Kong (except as she stated repeatedly the police..) has graciously permitted (after checking with Beijing) HongKongers to visit bars and karaokes again – those that remain open.

So, ignore the rain, and have a good night out!

Be a true HongKonger and wear a mask, stay safe, have fun – and leave a cash tip for the hardworking bar staff who’ve been trapped at home unpaid for weeks

Post Offices Reopen 24 August 2020

Hongkong Post today (22 August) announced that all post offices will resume their normal business hours starting from 24 August 2020.

Mail collection from posting boxes and mail delivery service (including that for Speedpost items) will also resume.

For buildings with confirmed COVID-19 cases within the past 14 days, delivery to the letterboxes in lobbies will be three times a week, but door delivery service will remain suspended until the building concerned is removed from the list of buildings with confirmed cases within the past 14 days.

For more information: www.hongkongpost.hk

New Arrival Procedures at Chek Lap Kok

As from the 18 August 2020, arrivals at Chek Lap Kok will undergo Wuhan virus testing inside the airport before passing through immigration.

No information has yet been provided from the Centre of Health Protection as to whether those testing positive will be allowed to enter Hong Kong.

For information and personal experiences of the testing procedure and lots of information about quarantining in Hong Kong check out the excellent and informative facebook group: HK Quarantine support group

Note: Information, flight requirements and procedures change regularly so check the CHP website before flying.

Entry Restrictions on Non-Hong Kong Residents Extended

The Hong Kong government today (6 April, 2020) extended, until further notice, the entry restrictions on non-Hong Kong residents arriving by plane.

All transit at Hong Kong International Airport will continue to be suspended until further notice.

The entry restrictions, which came into effect on the 25 March 2020, were announced by the Government on 23  March with the aim of reducing imported cases of the Wuhan virus know as COVID-19:

• All non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong;
• Non-Hong Kong residents coming from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan will be denied entry to Hong Kong if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days;
• All transit services at Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended;
• All travellers coming from Macao and Taiwan, including Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents, will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine, which is the same as the arrangements for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland.

The entry restriction and suspension of transit services at the airport were at the time to be implemented tentatively for 14 days, ending on 7 April, 2020.

Exemptions to the above restrictions include:

• Crew members of aircraft who need to commute to and from foreign places in performance of necessary duties or crew members of goods vessels;
• Government officials carrying out government duties including personnel of consular posts;
• Personnel engaged in anti-epidemic work endorsed by the HKSAR Government;
• Spouses and minor children of Hong Kong residents.

All entrants to Hong Kong must complete 14-days compulsory quarantine on arrival.

Read the government press release https://t.co/WW8NKVLBqB?amp=1

More information can be found on the government’s dedicated website www.coronavirus.gov.hk