HK to tighten quarantine for Russia arrivals

The government on Monday said it was tightening quarantine requirements for people arriving from Russia from July 16, amid a rebound in Covid cases in the country and after a number of arrivals from there had been detected as carrying a potentially more contagious mutant strain of the virus.

Russia will be designated as “very high-risk” from Friday, with anyone who’s stayed there in the three weeks prior to their departure to Hong Kong required to provide proof of a negative Covid test and confirmation of a 21-day reservation at a designated quarantine hotel.

This applies to all persons, regardless of whether they have been fully vaccinated or not.

“On arrival at Hong Kong, they will be subject to the ‘test-and-hold’ arrangement at the airport, and on confirmation of negative test results, they will then be required to board the designated transport arranged by the government to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for compulsory quarantine,” the government said.

While in quarantine, they’ll be tested four times. This will be followed by seven days of self monitoring, and a compulsory test on the 26th day after their arrival.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong health officials reported no new Covid-19 cases on Monday, leaving the city’s tally of confirmed cases at 11,951.

Over the past fortnight, officials have recorded 34 cases – including 32 imported infections.