Inbound to Hong Kong COVID-19 Quarantine & Restrictions
Jul 29, 2020, 10:42 pm
#1
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Inbound to Hong Kong COVID-19 Quarantine & Restrictions
Given the latest HK Government announcement on strict quarantine restrictions for inbound travellers from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa started 25/7 with Kazakhstan and the US from 29/7 I think it is a good idea to create a discussion thread to keep up to date with changes for travellers visiting the Fragrant Harbour.
The announcement can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/high-risk-places.html.
I am curious to know whether the 14 day hotel stay applies to just visitors or includes HK residents as well, as it states ‘travellers’. My personal reading is this means everyone.
Stay safe!
Nicc
The announcement can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/high-risk-places.html.
I am curious to know whether the 14 day hotel stay applies to just visitors or includes HK residents as well, as it states ‘travellers’. My personal reading is this means everyone.
Stay safe!
Nicc
Jul 30, 2020, 12:30 am
#2
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Just to add the reason the Philippines is on the list is apparently because of the number of passengers arriving from Manila on several flights having the virus
Jul 30, 2020, 8:10 am
#3
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Your post mix a few things.
First, no visitors have been allowed into Hong Kong for months. Just returning residents and a few exceptions. A major exception are travellers from mainland China, Taiwan and Macao who have not been to another country in the past 14 days.
Every returning resident is tested at the airport, wait for results and then quarantined either at home, hotel or dedicated center. That has been in place for several months.
Residents returning from high-risk countries, such as India, Pakistan, . have been sent to dedicated quarantine centers for the past month.
Three rather recent news are:
1) United States and Kazakhstan have been added to the list of high-risk countries a week ago.
2) Every returning resident from the high-risk country list must provide a certificate of a negative test in the 72 hours preceding the flight. Given the need for Government authentication, that will be difficult to get in several countries.
3) Returning residents from high-risk countries have to quarantined in a hotel. That is tough for Americans, but sweet (if expensive) for others who used to be sent to not-so-nice dedicated centers One reason is that those dedicated centers are needed for locals given the third covid wave in HK.
First, no visitors have been allowed into Hong Kong for months. Just returning residents and a few exceptions. A major exception are travellers from mainland China, Taiwan and Macao who have not been to another country in the past 14 days.
Every returning resident is tested at the airport, wait for results and then quarantined either at home, hotel or dedicated center. That has been in place for several months.
Residents returning from high-risk countries, such as India, Pakistan, . have been sent to dedicated quarantine centers for the past month.
Three rather recent news are:
1) United States and Kazakhstan have been added to the list of high-risk countries a week ago.
2) Every returning resident from the high-risk country list must provide a certificate of a negative test in the 72 hours preceding the flight. Given the need for Government authentication, that will be difficult to get in several countries.
3) Returning residents from high-risk countries have to quarantined in a hotel. That is tough for Americans, but sweet (if expensive) for others who used to be sent to not-so-nice dedicated centers One reason is that those dedicated centers are needed for locals given the third covid wave in HK.
Last edited by brunos; Jul 30, 2020 at 11:15 am Reason: I removed a sentence as Convinced by other posters
Jul 30, 2020, 8:33 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2014
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There are several reports that everyone headed to HK on the CX flight from JFK this week -- over a 100 people -- were denied boarding because their health documents were not in order. The requirement for some sort of government document certifying the authority of the lab which took the test is not practically available in the U.S. Nor are lab results with your passport number printed on them.
All the Government/CX will tell you are the required documents. The don't tell HOW to get them, which is the critical problem.
So reports in this thread from travellers who know first-hand what works and what doesn't work and where to get the paperwork done would be very valuable.
All the Government/CX will tell you are the required documents. The don't tell HOW to get them, which is the critical problem.
So reports in this thread from travellers who know first-hand what works and what doesn't work and where to get the paperwork done would be very valuable.
Jul 30, 2020, 8:37 am
#5
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There are several reports that everyone headed to HK on the CX flight from JFK this week -- over a 100 people -- were denied boarding because their health documents were not in order. The requirement for some sort of government document certifying the authority of the lab which took the test is not practically available in the U.S. Nor are lab results with your passport number printed on them.
All the Government/CX will tell you are the required documents. The don't tell HOW to get them, which is the critical problem.
So reports in this thread from travellers who know first-hand what works and what doesn't work and where to get the paperwork done would be very valuable.
All the Government/CX will tell you are the required documents. The don't tell HOW to get them, which is the critical problem.
So reports in this thread from travellers who know first-hand what works and what doesn't work and where to get the paperwork done would be very valuable.
Jul 30, 2020, 8:55 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2014
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As well, officials in Hong Kong are accustomed to seeing chops on paperwork, and American labs and government offices don't usually have seals and ink at hand.
And look at how this has affected arrivals. A week ago on July 22, before any of these new rules took effect, there were 1,570 arrivals at the airport. Yesterday, July 29, there were just 356.
And look at how this has affected arrivals. A week ago on July 22, before any of these new rules took effect, there were 1,570 arrivals at the airport. Yesterday, July 29, there were just 356.
Jul 30, 2020, 11:57 am
#7
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There is a recent news report of a Fedex pilot seen on the Peak Tram boasting his test results are pending. But shouldn't the inbound person be waiting at the airport hotel or test centre for the results being let out?
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKCN24U03S
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKCN24U03S
Jul 30, 2020, 12:51 pm
#8
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As well, officials in Hong Kong are accustomed to seeing chops on paperwork, and American labs and government offices don't usually have seals and ink at hand.
And look at how this has affected arrivals. A week ago on July 22, before any of these new rules took effect, there were 1,570 arrivals at the airport. Yesterday, July 29, there were just 356.
And look at how this has affected arrivals. A week ago on July 22, before any of these new rules took effect, there were 1,570 arrivals at the airport. Yesterday, July 29, there were just 356.
Jul 30, 2020, 1:12 pm
#9
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That's what I suggested on the other thread: that the point is actually to reduce airport arrivals and free up testing capacity for those sick in the city.
I believe the pilot seen at the Peak was travelling before the new rules on crew quarantine during layovers came into effect. Before, there apparently were some airline promises that crew not under quarantine would nonetheless restrict their activities, but legally crew were free to wander the city.
I believe the pilot seen at the Peak was travelling before the new rules on crew quarantine during layovers came into effect. Before, there apparently were some airline promises that crew not under quarantine would nonetheless restrict their activities, but legally crew were free to wander the city.
Jul 30, 2020, 3:47 pm
#10
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Can you please link the source?
Jul 30, 2020, 8:15 pm
#11
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What I am puzzled is why a Hong Kong resident can't return to his/her home for quarantine.
Jul 30, 2020, 10:22 pm
#13
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I can only speak with my own experience as I caught the last flight from LAX which didn't need the covid test result for boarding. I arrived at HKG on 28th July morning on CX881. Waited at AWE for 12 hours for the test result after I provided saliva sample. So it took a total of 14 hours from landing to leaving the AWE for home quarantine. Single digit hour wait it was not for sure.
Jul 31, 2020, 12:19 am
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Jul 31, 2020, 12:36 am
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