Explainer | Hong Kong quarantine and social-distancing rules: the city is revamping Covid-19 measures again ... Here’s what you need to know

Quarantine period for Hong Kong residents returning from overseas to be cut from 14 days to seven, while in-person classes are set to resume from April 19

Social-distancing curbs will be eased starting April 21, with dine-in hours to be extended to 10pm and four customers allowed per table in first phase

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Inbound travellers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport queuing up to be transported to quarantine hotels in the city. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:00am, 22 Mar 2022Updated: 4:30pm, 27 Mar 2022

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The Hong Kong government has announced a significant easing of tough pandemic-control measures from next month. The measures, covering three areas, will relax travel restrictions for Hong Kong residents returning from overseas from April 1, allow schools to resume in-person classes from April 19, and ease social-distancing curbs at restaurants and other premises in three phases from April 21.

Here is what you need to know about the latest changes.

Flight bans on nine countries will be scrapped from April 1. Photo: Winson Wong

Travel

Who can return to Hong Kong?

Only fully inoculated Hong Kong residents with recognised vaccination records can return to the city from overseas. Those who are unfit for vaccination due to health reasons and have proof issued by a medical practitioner are also allowed to return.

Travellers who are not residents cannot enter Hong Kong, except for those arriving from mainland China, Macau and Taiwan.

A ban on flights from nine countries – Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the United States – will be scrapped from April 1.

Returning Hong Kong residents will have to fulfil a few conditions, including being fully vaccinated, testing negative for the coronavirus no more than 48 hours before boarding and having a valid booking for seven nights at a quarantine hotel.