HK to tighten inbound travel rules for New Zealand

The government said on Wednesday that it will be raising its Covid-19 risk level for people coming in from New Zealand from low to medium – meaning inbound travellers will be subject to at least two weeks of quarantine.

The new arrangement will take effect from midnight on November 17.

Fully vaccinated arrivals will be tested four times during 14 days of quarantine, and will have to self-monitor the week after they get out. They will also need to get tested on the 16th and 19th days after their arrival in the SAR.

“Hong Kong residents who are not fully vaccinated will be subject to 21-day compulsory quarantine at [designated quarantine hotels], with six tests to be conducted during the period. Non-Hong Kong residents who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed entry,” the government said in a statement.

It said it is tightening the rules as the number of infections in New Zealand has been on the rise, adding that authorities there have announced they will be pursuing a policy of “living with the coronavirus”.

Once Hong Kong categorises New Zealand as a Group B or medium Covid risk country, there will be no countries left in its low-risk Group C.

Vaccinated arrivals from a low-risk place are subject to quarantine for one week.