The Hong Kong government made a series of announcements, declaring new stringent measures for entry into the country, banning flights from certain countries and extending entry bans.
Firstly, Hong Kong announced that non-Hong Kong residents shall not be permitted entry to the city if they have visited any of a variety of further countries within 21 days:
- Cape Verde
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Grenada
- Mauritania and Mayotte
- Iraq
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bolivia
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Laos
- Mongolia
- Solomon Islands
These countries have all been added to the Group A list of high risk places in January 2022. As for seafarers, they are not exempted for Group A list of countries unless they are Hong Kong residents, Standard Club explains.
Furthermore, Hong Kong residents who have visited these countries within 21 days will only be permitted to fly to Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised COVID-19 vaccine record.
They must then undergo a 21 day quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel on arrival. During the quarantine period six virus tests must be conducted and, on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong, they must also undergo compulsory testing in a community testing centre.
The extension of restrictions has been implemented as a result of the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Government is updating the city’s Prevention & Control of Disease Regulation to reflect these changes
said Standard Club.
In a second announcement, Hong Kong informed that it will suspend all flights to the city from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, UK and the USA from 8 January to 21 January 2022.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting global operations, countries around the world have either updated or launched new measures that affect shipping.
For this reason, BIMCO provides updates on a weekly basis with the preventive measures taken by the Governments against the spread of coronavirus.
FIND MORE INFO AT HONG KONG’S GUIDE FOR INCOMING TRAVELERS
