HK imposes 2-week flight ban on 8 countries including Philippines

 By Daisy CL Mandap 

CE Lam says the situation deteriorated rapidly since last night, prompting the tightening of measures

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has ordered all flights from eight countries, including the Philippines, to be halted for two weeks starting on the first hours of Jan 8, until Jan 21, amid a heightened alert in Hong Kong over the spread of the Omicron variant.

The others included in the list are Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

All passengers flying in directly from any of these places, or transiting through a third country, will not be allowed to come in.

Mrs Lam made the announcement in a public address this afternoon, Jan. 5, where she was joined by her top health officials.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The unscheduled briefing came in the wake of the first unlinked case of suspected Omicron infection being reported, as well as two preliminary positive cases linked to a Cathay aircrew found to carry the highly infectious variant. All three patients had been to various places across Hong Kong.

HOW? PINDUTIN ANG AD

“The situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating, that’s why we have to take decisive action,” said Mrs Lam.

Apart from the flight ban, certain social distancing rules will be tightened similar to what had been done during the third and fourth wave of the pandemic, said Mrs Lam.

Pindutin para sa detalye

The steps which will take effect from Friday, Jan 7 to Jan 20 will include the following:

1)     cancellation of major events or large unnecessary gatherings, including a farm fest scheduled this Friday and the Hong Kong Cycling Festival;

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2)     all dine-in services will stop at 6pm each day, but the maximum head count will remain as before, i.e.  2 people to a table for category B places; 4 for category C and 6 for category D

3)     public performances, including dancing, karaoke will be suspended;

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

4)     beauty parlors, gyms, museums, party rooms, nightclubs, bars, swimming pools and cruises will be halted

5)     all venues regulated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be included in the restrictions

6)     all visits to high-risk places such as nursing homes will be suspended.

Mrs Lam said the more restrictive measures will be reviewed after two weeks, and depending on the outcome, could either be relaxed or further restricted.

But she was hopeful there would be a positive development so members of the public could celebrate the Lunar New Year happily.

PADALA NA!

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