Hong Kong airport bans transit passengers from 153 nations
Hong Kong’s international airport has banned transiting passengers from 153 nations, in the latest tightening of the city’s strict anti-virus travel measures.
The move deepens Hong Kong’s global isolation and comes as Beijing battles to stamp out a flurry of Delta and Omicron outbreaks in the only major economy.
The Country has maintained some of the world’s harshest measures throughout the pandemic including weeks-long quarantines, targeted lockdowns and mass testing.
The Chinese business hub ranks territories into categories based on how widespread their COVID-19 infections are, with 153 countries currently classified as Group A from which arrivals must spend 21 days in quarantine.
“Hong Kong’s airport said anyone who has spent time in the last three weeks in any of those countries would be banned from transiting from Sunday.”
Eight Group A countries Australia, Canada, France, India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Britain and the United States are already banned entirely from arriving in Hong Kong.
The city is battling a small outbreak of the Omicron variant that began with returning Cathay Pacific flight crew who breached home quarantine rules.
It has reimposed strict social distancing rules, including closing gyms and halting restaurant dining after 6pm, and has said Cathay Pacific might face legal action.
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Kamila/Al-Jazeera
