All Venues Can Take Down Their QR Codes: Govt

PCR tests will be scaled back, quarantine wristbands are out, and Hong Kong's ubiquitous LeaveHomeSafe QR codes can be removed, the government said on Tuesday, as it gave further details of an easing of pandemic measures.

The relaxation of rules from Wednesday also means the three-day amber health code for incoming travellers is no more and providing they test negative for Covid, arrivals can visit restaurants and bars as soon as they land in the city.

However, incoming travellers will still be required to take a PCR test at the airport and do a second one two days later, and perform a rapid antigen test every day for five days.

Adding information to an earlier announcement by Chief Executive John Lee, the territory's health minister, Lo Chung-mau, said all venues across Hong Kong can take down their QR codes now people no longer have to check in with their LeaveHomeSafe app.

But for some places, like restaurants and bars, people will still need to prove they have been vaccinated against Covid and venue staff need to scan customers' records.

Lo said people could continue to use the LeaveHomeSafe app for this purpose if they so wished, noting that the app also has a function for PCR tests.

"But you can actually show your vaccine pass with different means, including the eHealth [app]. You can also screen-capture the vaccine pass, as well as use a paper version of the vaccine pass, these are all allowed," he said.

The health secretary said there will gradually be a reduction in compulsory testing orders for residents and other users of buildings with infected people. But the testing orders will still be issued if there are outbreaks at certain "important" premises.

PCR tests will continue for people in high-risk industries, like those working in hospitals and care homes, while schoolchildren and teachers will still have to take rapid antigen tests daily for the time being, Lo said.

"Kids are our issues of concern. We really haven't had a high vaccination rate for these students," he told reporters.

"And at the same time, these RAT tests for students have prevented a high rate of school outbreaks, during the time when the whole community situation [was] getting worse."

The minister said home quarantine wristbands are being scrapped because they are not cost-effective.

He added that travellers going to the mainland and Macau will no longer be required to conduct a PCR test at the border, but they will still need to obtain a negative test result 48 hours before departure.