The Chinese special administrative zone is tightening the entry and quarantine regulations again and banning passenger flights from eight countries. These include France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
With effect from January 8, 2022, people who have been in Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom or the United States of America in the last 14 days are prohibited from entering Hong Kong. The airlines are prohibited from operating passenger flights from these countries to the Chinese Special Administrative Region.
The ban is to apply until at least January 21, 2022 and is justified by the Hong Kong administration with the increased use of the Omikron variant. Further measures will be taken on site. For example, gyms and nighttime restaurants have to close because a few cases have been found.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said, “We need to understand this very critical moment. We need to contain the pandemic to prevent another major outbreak in the community. In a way, we're racing with Omikron ”.