Beijing, Jan 19 (EFE).- Covid-19 patients in Hong Kong will no longer be required to isolate from Jan. 30, the city’s chief executive, John Lee said Thursday, thereby scrapping a rule that had been in effect for almost three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, those infected by the disease have to undergo a five-day isolation at home or in government facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We have opened our borders [with the mainland] for over 10 days. The risk of infection has not been increased. The epidemic situation has been alleviating,” Lee said at a question and answer session at the Legislative Council, public broadcaster RTHK reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee added that it was time for the government to change its approach towards Covid-19 by replacing mandatory measures with voluntary ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He cited the 90 percent decline in cases from the 30,000 daily infections recorded during a recent peak and said that the people\u2019s immunity had increased due to the city\u2019s high vaccination rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In mid-December, Hong Kong announced the withdrawal of the mandatory three-day quarantine for overseas visitors.
It had scrapped hotel quarantines for travelers in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, masks are still mandatory in public places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the start of the pandemic, Hong Kong has imposed strict border controls under a zero-tolerance policy toward Covid-19 similar to the one in place in mainland China until only a few weeks ago. EFE
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