HK Govt Adds Canada To High-risk Covid List

The Hong Kong government has announced that it will add Canada to a list of high-risk coronavirus countries after the country reported a surge in Covid-19 infections.

The announcement means that travellers from Canada will need to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours before boarding flights to the SAR.

Passengers must also have a hotel booking for at least 14 days in the city as they are placed under quarantine.

The order will take effect on Christmas Day.

Passengers who fail to comply or provide inaccurate or misleading information face a maximum six months' jail sentence and a HK$10,000 fine.

Currently, passengers from 19 countries are already subject to these rules. They are Bangladesh, Belgium, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The news comes after Canada reported more than 7,000 confirmed cases on Thursday. Local media said the virus has so far infected just over 488,000 people in the country to date.