The Government today announced that COVID-19 nucleic acid testing arrangements for people arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore will be adjusted from June 3.
People aged over five who arrive in Hong Kong from June 3, and have only stayed in the Mainland or Macau on the day of arrival or during the 14 days before that day, should follow new testing arrangements.
For people who arrive at Hong Kong under the Return2HK Scheme and are exempted from compulsory quarantine, as well as those who are fully vaccinated and subject to a seven-day compulsory quarantine, the number of tests will be increased from two to three. Testing will be done on the third, fifth, and 12th day of arrival.
For example, a visitor arriving on June 3 shall undergo the third-day test on June 5, the Government explained.
Those who are not yet vaccinated and are subject to 14-day compulsory quarantine will have to undergo five tests on the third, seventh, 12th, 16th and 19th day of arrival.
Relevant exemption conditions will be amended by including the post-arrival test requirement as one of the exemption conditions, the Government added.
People subject to compulsory testing requirements will receive specimen collection bottles distributed by Port Health staff on arrival. They should collect deep throat saliva samples using the bottles according to the guidelines on the specified testing dates, and return the bottles by the same day.
Those who are not subject to compulsory quarantine or have completed quarantine may take virus tests at community testing centres on the specified testing dates. They must keep the SMS containing the test results for checking.
Meanwhile, the Government had earlier announced tightened boarding, quarantine and testing requirements for arriving passengers who have stayed in Taiwan and Singapore with effect from May 17 and May 21. The compulsory quarantine periods are now adjusted from seven days for fully vaccinated people or 14 days for non-vaccinated people, to 14 or 21 days.
Additionally, to further minimise infection risk involving imported cases, the Government requires people who have already arrived at Hong Kong before the implementation of the above tightened quarantine measures to undergo compulsory testing on the 12th day or the 16th and 19th day of arrival after completing the original quarantine period of seven or 14 days, and stay at their place of residence, private premises or the place of quarantine until they obtain confirmed negative test results.
As people who arrived at Hong Kong before the implementation of the above quarantine measure complete their compulsory quarantine and tests, those arriving at Hong Kong since May 17 and have stayed in Taiwan, and since May 21 and have stayed in Singapore, are no longer required to remain at their place of stay to wait for their compulsory testing results. They are subject to the same compulsory quarantine and testing arrangements as people arriving in Hong Kong who have stayed in other high-risk places.
Fully vaccinated people are subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with three tests on the third, fifth and 12th day to be conducted during the period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of arrival at Hong Kong.
Non-vaccinated people are subject to a 21-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with four tests to be conducted on the third, seventh, 12th and 19th day during the period.
For enquiries, call 6275 6901.
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