Commuters carrying face masks browse their smartphones as they trip on a subway prepare in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2023. Hong Kong will elevate its masks mandate Wednesday, March 1, 2023, ending the town’s final main restriction imposed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy Wong/AP
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Andy Wong/AP
Commuters carrying face masks browse their smartphones as they trip on a subway prepare in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2023. Hong Kong will elevate its masks mandate Wednesday, March 1, 2023, ending the town’s final main restriction imposed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy Wong/AP
HONG KONG — Hong Kong will elevate its masks mandate Wednesday, ending the town’s final main restriction imposed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town’s Chief Govt John Lee mentioned the requirement will finish open air and indoors, together with public transit, however some high-risk premises together with hospitals and aged properties can nonetheless require individuals to put on masks.
Lee’s announcement at a information briefing Tuesday got here a day after the neighboring metropolis Macau eased its masks rule and can deliver the monetary hub nearer to the life in pre-pandemic days.
He mentioned he made the choice as a result of the town didn’t see a rebound in infections and has constructed an immunity barrier.
“So as to give individuals a really clear message that Hong Kong is resuming normalcy, I feel that is the suitable time to make the choice,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the return to normalcy can be helpful to Hong Kong’s financial improvement and worldwide competitiveness.
For a lot of the pandemic, individuals in Hong Kong have been required to put on a masks in indoor and out of doors public areas. Violators may very well be fined 5,000 Hong Kong {dollars} ($637).
Hong Kong had largely adopted China’s “zero-COVID” technique during the last three years and used to have among the world’s strictest anti-virus guidelines. Within the final six months, the federal government has taken greater steps to open up in an try and revive its economic system and meet up with its rivals resembling Singapore.
