Returnees Warned Of 'long Wait' At Hong Kong Airport

The Centre for Health Protection warned on Wednesday that people arriving in Hong Kong should expect a “long wait” at the airport as a quarantine order for travellers from almost all countries is due to take effect.

Starting from midnight, people who arrive in the territory from anywhere in the world, apart from Taiwan and Macau, will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days, in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The centre’s controller, Dr Wong Ka-hing, advised passengers to fill in health declaration forms online before they land, but he said a long wait was inevitable even then, as there would be a large number of arrivals.

“Some procedures can only be done after they arrive in Hong Kong, for example, like issuing the quarantine orders. We’re discussing with various departments how the procedures can be streamlined,” he said.

Wong added that virus tests might be introduced as early as Thursday under which returnees from overseas would be given bottles at the airport for the collection of deep throat saliva. The samples will be used for the testing of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Wong also appealed to people who managed to rush back to the city from overseas before the quarantine order takes effect to stay home even though they are not required to do so by law.