Given the current COVID-19 situation, Hong Kong airport has announced a ban on transit passengers from 153 countries (which is most of the world). The government of Hong Kong on Friday made the announcement in order to put a cap on the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Hong Kong is known for following some of the strictest measures throughout the pandemic, including weeks-long quarantine, strict lockdowns and mass testing. Now the special administrative region of China has recognised 153 nations currently and has divided them as Group A (from which arrivals must spend 21 days in quarantine).
Hong Kong’s airport also stated that people who have been to any of these 153 countries in the last three weeks would be banned from transiting from Sunday (16th January). Eight countries (Group A), including India, Pakistan, Canada, France, the Philippines, Australia, Britain and the United States have been already banned from arriving in Hong Kong.
As of now, Hong Kong is suffering from the Omicron outbreak that began with returning Cathay Pacific flight crew who happened to breach home quarantine rules. Since then, all COVID restrictions have been reimposed including social distancing, closing gymnasiums and stopping the operation of restaurants after 6 PM.
