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• Quarantine reduction from 14 days to seven set to cover places classified as ‘high risk’ or lower including Canada, Japan, Britain, Singapore and the US
• Loosening of isolation rules likely to apply to residents who are double jabbed, test positive for antibodies and screen negative for the virus on their arrival from lower-risk countries

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The mandatory quarantine period for fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents testing positive for coronavirus antibodies on their return from lower-risk countries could be halved from 14 to seven days, the Post has learned.

Details of the latest arrangements are expected to be revealed at a Monday afternoon press conference led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, according to sources, with the government likely to adopt the recommendations of its scientific advisers to loosen quarantine rules.

Lam is also poised to announce the relaxation of some social-distancing measures.

The shortened quarantine period is set to cover residents who have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days and have returned from countries deemed to be “high risk” or lower for Covid-19. On arrival, they must test positive for antibodies against the coronavirus and negative for the virus itself.

The seven-day quarantine would be applicable to Hong Kong residents, including work-visa holders, returning from countries classified in high-risk Group B and medium-risk Group C under the city’s five-tier system for assessing the overseas Covid-19 threat.

Those returning from countries in A1 and A2 – judged to be extremely high risk and very high risk respectively – are either barred from returning altogether or have to quarantine for 21 days.

Fully vaccinated people arriving from the lowest-risk countries – Australia and New Zealand of Group D – can already take advantage of seven-day quarantine.

Government health advisers said earlier that testing for coronavirus antibodies could indicate whether international arrivals had been vaccinated.

Antibody testing of people undergoing quarantine might also help identify false negative cases to ensure asymptomatic infections did not enter the community, they added.

City leader Lam previously said she supported the experts’ suggestions for antibody testing and that health authorities were studying the detail of the proposals.

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Mrs. Lam started the press conference saying:

• There are no local cases in Hong Kong today. We have not had any local cases in the past 14 days.
• Hong Kong has done very well in the past few months with many licensed premises returning to normal. She gave the example of Art Basel and the public being welcomed back to the racecourse.
• The economy has improved too in the past few months with the unemployment coming down to approximately 6%.
• Many scientists have said its impossible to completely irradiate the Covid-19 Virus.
• Many people in different industries have urged her to loosen some measures.
• Total Vaccines Administered as of 8pm on June 20th: 3,220,574

Total Population with 1st Vaccine Dose 1,940,405 (28.5% of Eligible Population*)
Total Population with 2nd Vaccine Dose 1,280,169 (18.8% of Eligible Population*)

• CE says that the vaccination numbers are not good when compared to the western world and we must work harder and do better. She encourages people to get vaccinated as son as possible.

Dr. Ronald Lam:

• 3 new imported cases today including 2 from the UK and 1 from Indonesia. All three cases have L452R
• The trend is showing more imported cases carry mutations.
• 99 percent of the new cases in the United Kingdom carry the L452R mutation.
• The situation globally is still very serious and we must not let our guard down.
• Dr. Lam is very worried about the low vaccination rates of those above the age of 80 percent. Only about 4.6% percent of this age group has had the first dose of the vaccine.
• CHP and the special committee on vaccines say its safe for older people to take the vaccine. If the older people have taken the flu shot previously, then he/she should not run into any problems with the covid vaccine.

New Measures (Effective June 24th at 0001hrs)

1. There will be no changes in rules for

• Public Bathhouses
• Cinemas

Professor Sophia Chan:

• Restaurants will continue to run on a vaccine bubble concept.

No Changes to A to B Restaurant Bubble
C will be allowed to operate at 75% capacity
D will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity if all staff are fully vaccinated. Table sizes will be increased to 12. Venues such as weddings sizes can have 180 people.

1. Bars - Table sizes up to 4

2. Karaokes - Rooms can have up to 8 people.

• Private and Public Swimming Pools can increase to 50% Capacity if the staff such as lifeguards are fully vaccinated.
• Gyms - If members and staff are fully vaccinated then there is n need to wear a mask.

Professor Chan urges everyone to take a vaccine as soon as possible.
599G (Group Gatherings)

• CE said no changes in 599G for the moment
• There will be exceptions made in some circumstances if the majority of the people are vaccinated.
• For Example for wedding ceremonies where no food and drinks are served if 2/3rds of the guests are vaccinated then the government will allow 100 percent capacity.
• More details will be announced in a press conference.

Leaving and Arriving Hong Kong:

• CE said Europe has recently opened up their policy on travel.
• The situation in Hong Kong is good at the moment and we need to open up.
• Her scientific team has advised her that quarantine time may be reduced to 7 days under 3 conditions

1. Person arriving into Hong Kong must be fully vaccinated.
2. Person must be tested for covid upon arrival at HKIA. (Test and Hold)
3. Person must be tested for antibodies at HKIA. A blood sample must be given.

Phase 1: (Effective 6/30)

• Hong Kong residents currently in Hong Kong can make an appointment at a private clinic and test for antibodies. The test result will be effective for 3 months from the date of the test.
• Upon returning to Hong Kong within the three month period, the person must show this test result to health authorities in Hong Kong and he/she will be eligible for a 7 day quarantine rather than a 14 day or 21 day quarantine.

Phase 2: (TBA - But hopefully within the month)

• The Government is arranging for nurses to draw blood from persons arriving into Hong Kong without valid tests. This will take some time and it is unlikely that the result can come back fast enough.
• Government will not accept test from foreign clinics.
• CE says the person will only know the result if he/she is positive for antibodies. Only after the result comes back will the person be eligible for a shortened quarantine period.

Children Under 12 and Elderly People:

• CE says they are currently studying what to do with families that arrive with children and elderly people whom are not eligible/suitable to be vaccinated. More details to come later.

Hotels:

• Hotels have been asked by the Government to allow more flexibility for travelers.

Macau:

• Hong Kong Government has been speaking to the Government of Macau.
• Now is not the time to fully open up because of the large number of passengers.
• Both agree that persons traveling must be vaccinated.
• A test must be conducted either before or during travel.

Mainland China:

• Many discussions ongoing with Mainland China.
• We should have had more passengers going thru by now but as we know there were some cases in Guangdong.

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