China: Authorities in Hong Kong tighten travel restrictions from several African countries as of Nov. 27 due to new COVID-19 variant /update 78

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Authorities have tightened travel restrictions for several African countries as of Nov. 27 due to concerns over a new COVID-19 variant. Officials have classified Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe as high-risk countries until further notice. Further amendments to the list of high-risk countries may occur on short notice in the coming weeks as new cases of the COVID-19 variant emerge in other locations.

Travel Restrictions
Hong Kong only allows fully vaccinated residents to enter from high-risk countries. All arrivals must quarantine for 21 days and take six tests during quarantine. These individuals must follow self-monitoring protocols for a week after quarantine ends and undergo additional COVID-19 testing on specified days.

Authorities classify other places as medium-risk; no country is in the low-risk category as of Nov. 27. Officials permit Hong Kong residents and fully vaccinated nonresidents from medium-risk countries to enter the territory. Residents who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 21 days and take six COVID-19 tests. Vaccinated arrivals from medium-risk locations and unvaccinated travelers from low-risk areas must quarantine for 14 days and take four tests during the quarantine period. Fully vaccinated arrivals from low-risk countries must quarantine for seven days and take two COVID-19 tests during the quarantine period. All vaccinated arrivals must follow self-monitoring protocols for a week after quarantine ends and undergo additional COVID-19 testing on specified days. Officials will isolate and treat symptomatic passengers or people testing positive for COVID-19 at government-designated facilities. A detailed list of location risk levels and quarantine and testing requirements is available here.

Authorities permit entry for travelers from Macau, Taiwan, and mainland China, provided they have not visited elsewhere in the past 21 days. Arrivals from mainland China and Macau must quarantine for 14 days at a hotel. However, a limited number of Hong Kong residents who have only visited low-risk areas in mainland China and Macau can forgo quarantine by making a reservation online and entering via Shenzhen Bay or Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge border checkpoints or Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Officials have expanded the program to nonresidents who have been in Guangdong Province or Macau for the previous 14 days. Participants in the scheme must also get tested on days three, five, nine, 12, 16, and 19 after entry. All other border checkpoints remain closed. Vaccinated senior executives of selected publicly listed or registered financial services companies can enter if they meet specific criteria. Such travelers must undergo COVID-19 testing and adhere to approved itineraries.

All arriving passengers must provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test result from a sample taken 72 hours or less before arrival; authorities calculate the sample time and date from the time zone of the inbound flight for connecting passengers. Travelers from mainland China must have testing conducted at laboratories mutually agreed upon by Guangdong Province and Hong Kong officials or approved by China's National Health Commission. All other entrants arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) must also provide documentation that the testing organization is ISO 15189 accredited or recognized by the government where the test occurred and a reservation at a designated quarantine hotel before boarding flights. Test results and other documentation must be in either Chinese or English. Arrivals must undergo on-arrival COVID-19 testing and remain in designated locations at HKG until receiving a negative result before continuing onto hotel quarantine.

Quarantine exemptions are available for limited groups such as officials on government duty, drivers of goods vehicles and coaches, as well as on-duty crew members of aircraft, goods vessels, and vessels that require shipping services. All exempted entrants will be subject to strengthened monitoring measures during self-isolation; most government officials will have to quarantine at designated facilities instead of their residences.

Hong Kong is also indefinitely maintaining strict measures for crews of aircraft and maritime vessels. They must self-isolate in their accommodations between shifts and may have to undergo additional routine testing. Airlines and shipping companies must arrange point-to-point transport for employees to limit interaction with the public. Under these requirements, ships without cargo cannot exchange crews. On other ships, workers are no longer allowed to enter the territory and must travel directly to the airport after disembarking. Inbound ship and flight crew members must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours before departure for Hong Kong.

Officials allow some transit flights at HKG if grouped in a single booking and the connection time is shorter than 24 hours. Airport Authority Hong Kong permits flights originating from mainland China, but transit flights to mainland China remain banned. Airlines have significantly reduced flights due to decreased demand, and additional cancellations are likely.

Domestic Restrictions
Public gatherings remain limited to four people. Private events, including weddings, religious ceremonies, and shareholder meetings, can occur at 50 percent of the venue's capacity; officials permit events to be held at full capacity if at least two-thirds of attendees have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. This measure also applies to venues hosting forums, exhibitions, and symposiums. The government allows seated entertainment venues to operate at 85 percent capacity, with groups of up to six people. Residents must wear facemasks in all public areas, including on modes of transport.

Almost all nonessential businesses may operate. Authorities are implementing a "vaccine bubble," which regulates capacity at high-risk venues depending on staff and patron vaccination rates. Restaurants must close dine-in services at 22:00 and confirm that patrons check in using the Leave Home Safe mobile application or manually collect contact information. If all staff and customers have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose and customers use the Leave Home Safe mobile application, restaurants can operate until 23:59 and serve groups of up to six people. Officials allow an overall capacity of 75 percent at these establishments. Restaurants with fully vaccinated staff members can extend operating hours to 02:00; officials permit these establishments to operate at full capacity, provided two-thirds of customers have received one vaccine dose. Nightclubs, karaoke rooms, and pubs can operate at up to 50 percent capacity until 02:00 if all staff and customers have received at least one vaccine dose; however, these establishments must limit seating to two people per table.

Authorities continue to conduct mandatory testing for high-risk groups, including people who work or live at locations with reported outbreaks and employees in specific occupations. Officials also require residents that may have been exposed to COVID-19 to get tested. People who do not take required tests are subject to a fine of HKD 2,000; officials could impose a penalty of up to HKD 25,000 or prison sentences of up to six months for individuals who repeatedly fail to get tested. The government continues to order focused, short-duration lockdown orders in neighborhoods where officials suspect COVID-19 is spreading. Authorities usually select specific buildings within an area and require residents to remain at home until testing is complete. Shutdowns can occur without notice but typically take place overnight.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by local health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.

Resources

Hong Kong Government
Leave Home Safe