Hong Kong eases home quarantine for Macau arrivals

Mandatory home isolation for fully vaccinated individuals arriving in Hong Kong from mainland China and Macau has been cut from seven days to three.

The Hong Kong government announced that, from Friday, people entering under the Return2hk and Come2hk schemes will be required to quarantine at home for three days.

This is followed by four nights of self-monitoring. 

Individuals will be given an electronic wristband to wear during the isolation period to ensure they do not leave home.

They are also required to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on the fourth and sixth days after their arrival.

Arrivals from Macau will not have an amber health code, unlike international arrivals.

The amber code prevents individuals from entering sites that check patrons’ vaccination records, including restaurants, bars, gyms and beauty salons.

People who arrived on or before August 6 and are undergoing home quarantine “are considered to have completed home quarantine after 9 a.m. on Day 3 of arrival,” according to the government statement. 

“Under the principles of science-based and targeted anti-epidemic measures, as well as the proper management of risks and citizen-focused facilitation, we will continue to adjust anti-epidemic measures as appropriate according to the epidemic developments and analyses of scientific data, in order to continue to guard against the importation of cases,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, those arriving under quarantine-free Return2hk and Come2hk programs will not be affected.