Hong Kong lifts Covid restrictions; masks to stay

Hong Kong’s withdrawal of restrictions comes as a surprise, as it had the toughest rules imposed ever since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Strict rules that had been in place in a bid to check Covid spread will be lifted by the Hong Kong administration this week. The lifting of restrictions would mean that people arriving in Hong Kong will not have to undergo the mandatory PCR tests anymore.

Further, the country will also do away with the vaccine pass system. However, the rule on compulsory wearing of masks in public places will not be changed. This apart, from Thursday onwards, Hong Kong will also allow more people to gather outside their homes. The number has been raised to 12, from the earlier four.

The new rule changes come about as dramatic by Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region of China. Hong Kong is governed by the “one country, two systems” principle by China.

Hong Kong follows China in relaxing rules

It may be noted that China too had lifted stringent restrictions earlier last week, even as the latest variant of the coronavirus had been turning out to be a menace. Hong Kong’s withdrawal of restrictions comes as a surprise, as it had the toughest rules imposed ever since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The administration has attributed the lifting of restrictions to high vaccine rates, and other reasons. The government figures, according to a report, reveal that 93 percent of the Hong Kong population have been administered two vaccine doses, and more than 83 percent have been given three doses. People above 80 years of age, who are considered the most vulnerable, however form only 64 percent of the population that have received three doses.

Equips itself with expert professionals, better drugs

Though China has preferred to use only the indigenously developed vaccines, Hong Kong has gone a step further and administered vaccines made in other nations too. Among them is the BioNTech vaccine, developed by Germany. This jab has proved that it was more effective.

Besides, the administration is of the opinion that medicines that fight Covid are aplenty in Hong Kong. They believe that healthcare workers in the region are equipped well and have rich experience fighting the ailment.  

 Hong Kong had earlier reported as many as 11000 deaths during the worst phase of the pandemic.