In view of the rapidly worsening COVID-19 pandemic situation due to the Omicron variant, the Government today announced a series of measures to further guard against the importation of cases.

From December 21, the Government will impose measures applicable to Group A places with enhanced surveillance on people who have stayed in the UK.

Peru will also be listed as a Group A specified place from December 23.

The Government observed that so far, all imported Omicron cases in Hong Kong have been detected either by arrival tests or tests given within the first three days of arrival in Hong Kong. To better utilise the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre (PBQC), the Government decided that from December 21, Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A places with enhanced surveillance within 21 days are required to undergo compulsory quarantine at the PBQC for the first four days upon arrival, during which they have to receive daily virus tests and their health condition will be monitored by healthcare professionals.

On the fifth day of arrival, they will be transferred by designated transport to finish the remaining 17 days of compulsory quarantine at the designated quarantine hotel (DQH) which they reserved before coming to Hong Kong.

At the same time, all people arriving in Hong Kong who have stayed in Group A places with enhanced surveillance are required to get tested daily for the first seven days of arrival, regardless of whether they are in a quarantine centre or a DQH. Thereafter, they are required to undergo tests every other day during the remaining 14-day quarantine period.

Including the arrival test at the airport and the compulsory test at a community testing centre on the 26th day of arrival, the inbound visitors will be tested a total of 14 times, the Government reiterated.

It also noted that a seven-day transitional period will be implemented. From December 21 to 27, if inbound travellers can present at boarding confirmation of a room reservation at a DQH for no less than 14 nights starting from the eighth day of arrival in Hong Kong, they will still be allowed to board for Hong Kong.

They will then undergo compulsory quarantine in the PBQC for seven days as per the current arrangement. During that period, if they manage to reserve a room at the original DQH from the fifth to seventh day, they can be transferred by designated transport to that DQH to complete the remaining 17 days of compulsory quarantine.

From December 28, inbound travellers will have to present confirmation of a room reservation at a DQH for no less than 17 nights starting from the fifth day of arrival in Hong Kong in accordance with the updated arrangement, the Government added.

In view of two imported Omicron cases detected from the UK, the Government will impose the above adjusted quarantine and testing arrangements applicable to Group A places with enhanced surveillance on travellers from the UK who arrive in Hong Kong from December 21.

It also announced that Hong Kong’s passenger flight suspension mechanism will be tightened with immediate effect. If four or more passengers have been confirmed to have COVID-19 by arrival tests on any flights from the same original port of the same airline within a seven-day period, the route of the airline concerned will be suspended for 14 days.

Furthermore, from December 23, owing to the detection of Omicron cases, Peru will be listed as a Group A specified place.

Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Peru within 21 days will not be allowed to enter the city, while Hong Kong residents can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised COVID-19 jab record. Upon arrival, they must undergo 21 days of compulsory quarantine in a DQH, during which six virus tests have to be conducted. On the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong, they must also undergo another compulsory test in a community testing centre.

From December 24, all passengers who board a flight for Hong Kong (including transferring or transiting passengers) are required to present at boarding a negative result proof of a virus test for COVID-19 with the specimen collected within 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure, the Government added.