HK To Turn Away Many Non-residents For 14 Days

Hong Kong is to close its borders to many non-residents of the city for 14 days from Wednesday, amid a recent surge in the number of coronavirus patients, many of whom are believed to have brought the infection in with them from overseas.

Non-residents arriving from the mainland, Macau or Taiwan will still be allowed in, as long as they hadn't been anywhere else in the world in the past 14 days. This applies to citizens as well as foreigners.

But those coming from Macau and Taiwan will also have to go into quarantine for 14 days – a rule that had already been imposed on arrivals from everywhere else, including the mainland.

In addition, Macau residents who have been in other countries over the past 14 days will still be allowed to fly into Hong Kong airport, but will be taken straight to their home city by coach.

A two-week ban on transit passengers at the airport will also come into force on Wednesday.

The announcements were made by Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday afternoon, during a press conference at the government's headquarters.

Calls had been growing for an entry ban on non-residents, with medical experts and lawmakers from both the pro-establishment and pro-democracy camps saying the move would reduce pressure on the city's hospitals.

However, most of those found to be infected after recent travel abroad have been local people, rather than non-residents.

Since Friday, anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 after flying into Chek Lap Kok has been taken to one of two nearby testing centres for checks.

Those who test positive for the virus are being taken to hospital, while others are being allowed to go home to quarantine themselves.