Coronavirus Hong Kong: more tests for arrivals from low-risk countries, while Post review finds rising number of infected arrivals already vaccinated
- Authorities also say that antibody test will be available at airport beginning August 18 that will allow certain travellers to cut their quarantine time in half
- A review of imported cases going back to the start of last month finds an increasing proportion involved fully vaccinated arrivals
Health authorities also announced on Saturday that antibody screening would be offered at the airport from August 18 to fully vaccinated travellers from medium-risk countries and a positive result would halve their quarantine time to seven days.
Starting on Monday, Hong Kong will use a streamlined process to assess the Covid-19 risk that countries pose and adjust the entry requirements for arrivals accordingly. Ahead of that change, the government announced that people coming from New Zealand and Australia, which comprise the lowest-risk category, must take two more tests, on top of the pair already announced. But they will need to spend two weeks in isolation if they are not fully vaccinated.
The antibody test will be voluntary and take about two days. A source had previously said the cost would be about HK$780 (US$100).
“People who choose to undergo self-paid serology antibody testing at the airport will still be required to present at boarding [overseas] the confirmation of a room reservation of no less than 14 nights in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong, or they will not be allowed to board flights for [the city],” a government spokesman said.
