As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. In addition to masks, passengers are asked to bring their own gloves as an optional additional precautionary measure. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 response, March 18, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. It was only a year ago that some Americans were Philadelphia: Masks are currently required at the Philadelphia International Airport and in many of the citys indoor spaces, like restaurants, museums, sporting areas You can find her on twitter @kamal_t, Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport, are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks, the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked, children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public transport and on commercial aircraft. After much criticism, the Hong Kong authorities in December last year decided to lift its contentious "amber code," which forced residents to use an app to enter any venue. As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. The mask mandate for domestic U.S. flights has been lifted although it might come back. The majority of the country would now be considered low-to-medium risk. Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical virologist at the University of Hong Kong, noted that when the virus began spreading in the city in early 2020, its residents almost universally wore masks, even before they became mandatory. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. She also noted that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to it should continue to mask, regardless of what risk-level their community has. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. Tourism numbers remain low. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. China has a zero-COVID policy. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for example. But for local health officials and school boards, the CDC suggests a community consider three factors: new COVID-19 hospitalizations; hospital capacity; and new COVID-19 cases. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. If those risk factors climbed, putting a community at "high" risk, the CDC recommends that a community urges its residents to return to masks and step up other precautions. It, however, experienced a surge in April 2021. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. "We look forward to a better tomorrow, which is the 1st of March so that we can all put a smile on our faces say, 'Hello, Hong Kong,'" he said, according to Hong Kong Free Press. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. And so for that reason, we're recommending that schools use the same guidance that we are recommending in general community settings, which is that we're recommending people where a mask in high levels of COVID-19" risk, said Dr. Greta Massetti, a senior CDC official. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. A requirement to wear masks outdoors in public spaces was lifted in February 2022, and the government is expected to lift most or all remaining mask requirements and other COVID-related restrictions by mid-June 2022. 2023 BBC. But some remain - primary and secondary school students still need to test daily for Covid, although some reports say this measure could be lifted later this month. By Sarah Jacoby. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. The Omicron surge in late 2021/early 2022 convinced several prefectures to institute restrictions on some businesses, especially bars and eateries, but those restrictions have since been lifted. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kongs push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. Accordingly, the CDC now says individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should consider taking precautions, such as avoiding crowds and wearing a high-quality mask. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. The airline is, however, aware that many Hong Kongers may feel nervous about being around unmasked passengers or crew members for long periods in these cases, the airline has asked nervous passengers not to fly until they feel comfortable around unmasked seatmates. We use the largest wearing survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six The guidance also is intended to give local officials a roadmap to re-imposing restrictions if another variant pops up, which health experts warn is a possibility. Learn how your comment data is processed. Masks however, are still required for everyone, onboard all domestic flights. In February, the Japanese government announced that on March 13, it will start to ease restrictions on mask-wearing including in public transportation and schools. As part of its Hello Hong Kong campaign, the city is giving away more thanhalf a millionairline tickets starting from Wednesday. The Hang Seng Tech index meanwhile, fell 1.42%. She reports on global health, science, and development, and her work has been published in the New York Times, The British Medical Journal, BBC, The Guardian and other outlets. In a press call with reporters, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky cautioned that COVID was unpredictable and that these conditions could change that put hospitals at risk of once again being overloaded. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Places where social distancing is not followed. South African Airways requires that children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure for all international flights, and must complete a "Traveler Health Questionnaire" on arrival, asking such things as, "Did you change your seat during the trip?". South Korea is also one of the major tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017. Hoping to revive tourism, the city recently announced plans to give away half a million plane tickets to foreign visitors, and the authorities have continued to roll back the remaining restrictions. Almost 100,000 Filipino tourists arrived in Indonesia before the pandemic. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday. The US is one of the countries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the early stages of the outbreak with a recorded 103 million cases. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. Tourists along the promenade in the Tsim Sha Tsui area in Hong Kong, on Feb. 28, 2023. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. As of April 2022, masks are required to be worn at all times when leaving the home, mandatory testing and quarantine centers have been reopened, and many schools and non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed again. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line Heres where. Now, Berlin and Brandenburg are the first of Germany's 16 federal states considering a reintroduction of mandatory masks for indoor public spaces, at least in retail. At least now tourists dont have to worry about being fined for not wearing a mask in the street, said Pamela Mak, president of Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. The move will come into effect from March 1 and suggests that the administration is looking to restore some semblance of normalcy. "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday. "Persons with a medical condition who cannot wear a face mask or cannot wear it safely due to the medical condition must send a medical certificate or the MEDIF form through our Contact Form at least 48 hours before the scheduled flight.". Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. In case of refusal to use it before or during the flight, you will be reported as an unruly passenger to the respective authorities. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. China's airlines have become a bit less strict than in the early days of the pandemic when in-flight announcements would urge passengers not to chitchat during the flight. Harrelson conducted the interview to promote his new film Champions, but things took a turn when he was asked about his perspective on the movie business evolution since the 1990s. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? After long 959 days or three years, the city of Hong Kong has finally bid adieu to the controversial COVID-19 mask mandate that was brought in to prevent the spread of the virus. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. Cathay Pacific has told passengers who are nervous or uncomfortable around seatmates who choose not to wear a face mask on one of the airlines flights to postpone their travel plans after Hong Kong lifted its years-long mask mandate. "And we need to be prepared and we need to be ready for whatever comes next. Add your comment to start the conversation. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. "With the masking requirement removed, we are starting to resume to normalcy comprehensively and that will be very beneficial to the economic development, our international competitiveness, as well as our activities which involve everyone in Hong Kong," Lee said. Macau, the nearby gambling hub, which like Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, ended its outdoor mask mandate on Monday. Photo/Matthew Busch/The New York Times / Various masks hang at a home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2022. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. Next month will see Hong Kong host the biggest series of international events since often-violent protests in 2019shut downmuch of the city, including a music festival, Art Basel and the Rugby Sevens tournament. A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. Always keeping an ear close to the ground, Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage is frequently relied upon by some of the biggest names in journalism. There are other precautionary measures for air travelers in China. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). Heres where. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. Most states either don't have a statewide mask Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. Health Secretary Chung-mau Lo said the government would recommend that people who are immunocompromised or have upper respiratory issues continue to wear masks. Terms & Conditions. Before the pandemic, almost 500,000 Filipino travelers visited Thailand. In the same month, further easing of the city's social distancing rules was announced and the previously mandatory negative COVID-19 RAT ( rapid antigen test) result requirement was also scrapped. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful. There are no comments yet. Why is it important to subscribe? The rule is enforceable byfinesof up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. The one for schools expired on March 1. It was only a year ago that some Americans were talking about wearing masks forever, becoming a society where it is normal to wear face coverings when we shop for groceries or go the gym, even after the urgent threat of COVID-19 was Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for a well-known European airline. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. 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Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. As the world continues to live and adapt to the pandemic, several countries, including the Philippines, have lifted the face mask requirement. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, most of the world's countries mandated the use of surgical-type masks in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. While the updated guidance drops the recommendation of universal masking in schools, the CDC said it is still reviewing a federal requirement that individuals wear masks on public transportation, including on airplanes. Hong Kong was one of the world's last masking holdouts. 3. Still, the new benchmarks could be used by local leaders, school boards and public health officials who are facing vastly different versions of the pandemic even within the same state. Many people have stopped wearing masks but others are still opting to keep theirs on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had, earlier last week, released new guidelines suggesting that 70 percent of Americans no longer needed to wear masks and needn't avoid crowded spaces. This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. Hong Kong will end its mask mandate for indoors and outdoors on Wednesday, March 1 its Chief Executive John Lee said in a briefing. However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. There will no longer be a need to wear a mask on Cathay Pacific flights or in its airport lounges. Global isolation meant that the tourism industry was completely wrecked and the economy of Asia's financial hub shrank by 3.5 per cent in 2022. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. As of April 2022, the emergence of COVID-19 vaccinnes (as well as increased availability of treatment) has enabled many countries to relax their mask mandates. This is an indication that Filipinos have found value in wearing a mask and would really want to protect themselves and their families, Vergeire said. Based on that risk level, which could fluctuate, a community could opt to remove mask recommendations indoors or pull back on other mitigation measures, such as surveillance testing. Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images However, the situation is still in flux, with mandates often lifted or reinstated on a day-to-day basis as cases surge or wane in a given country or new COVID-19 variants emerge. Masks were still required on public transportation and in health care facilities, but not in restaurants, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and other public places. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. India Dot Com Private Limited. Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. As of Wednesday, the city will no longer require people to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. Anyone can read what you share. But in the wake of the plummeting numbers and the soaring pandemic fatigue throughout the country, 49 states have announced plans to end their indoor mask mandates. "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. The omicron wave, which infected a vast majority of the country, also boosted the nation's immunity from prior infection for the timebeing. LATAM airline, based in Santiago, Chile, has a lengthy mask dissertation: "No passenger may board the aircraft without a mask, or without its proper use. When asked why it dropped its universal masking recommendation for schools, the CDC said the lower risk of serious COVID-19 illness in kids was a factor. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. Emirates Wants to Massively Expand its Operations in India By Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week. Despite its proximity to China, the epicenter of COVID-19, Taiwan has been praised for its highly effective COVID-19 response, having had only less than 500 cases in the first few months of the pandemic. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. All Rights Reserved. "After looking at all the data, the trends Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. We find that population mask wearing notably reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission (mean mask-wearing levels corresponding to a 19% decrease in R). LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. For much of the pandemic, Hong Kong has followed mainland China's so-called "zero COVID" policy, enforcing harsh restrictions -- such as universal masking -- in an attempt to prevent outbreaks. Your email address will not be published. In India, for example, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set regulations as of May 2020 that all flight crew were required to be in PPE a full protective body suit, (similar to the kind medical professionals wear) with masks, gloves and face shield. Hong Kong was one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing. 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Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. At one stage, masks were required even when exercising. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino Read more:Hong Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs. What's he waiting for? However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. However, government officials have explicitly stated that plans could change as new data and/or disease cases emerge. Despite relaxing border rules late last year, Hong Kongs government had been reluctant to lift the mask mandate amidst calls from various medical professionals to keep the mandate in force for the foreseeable future. In a bid to woo foreign visitors, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to give away half a million air tickets - beginning on Wednesday. However, in light of the current vaccination reates and relatively low virus prevalence, the South Korean government announced in April 2022 that it would be lifting all social distancing rules. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. The new guidance recommends that people who are at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should talk to their doctor about how to stay safe in a community that might have moderate risk levels. We are witnessing the Great Unmasking, with masks mandates falling faster, even, than plummeting Omicron caseloads. BY Tristan Bove. The number of destinations on the list is slowly increasing, including plenty in Europe. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public transport and on commercial aircraft. Researchers found city-level vaccine mandates to have, at most, a negligible effect on A federal judge in Shares of companies linked to tourism gained. The United Kingdom is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos. Mask mandates stretching for years on end are going to run out of steam in terms of how effective they are, Dr. Sridhar said. Hong Kong largely avoided mass outbreaks in the first two years of the pandemic by imposing tight border controls and social distancing policies, in an attempt to bring its caseload as close to zero as possible. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. South Korea has mandated mask-wearing in both indoor and outdoor public locations since the beginning of the pandemic. "It's not a good time to drop the interventions that we know have been effective. Under the new metrics, more than half of U.S. counties, which make up about three-fourths of where Americans live, are now considered to be at "low" or "medium" risk because of a reduced number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and adequate hospital space. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Other Covid curbs in Hong Kong included strict quarantine rules, limitations on the number of people gathering in public places, as well as restricting visitors in nursing homes. Hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece 's Centre for Health Protection give each month to tourism Malaysia, Filipino... Kongs leader said on Tuesday, Hong Kong 's economy cited as of! Than four million Filipinos containing COVID-19 with a very low number of places it rebounded 2021... Air travelers in China decrease in R ) spreading the virus is under control in Kong... Its testing capacity for COVID-19 Read more: Hong Kong 's population shrunk dramatically during the covid.! Away more thanhalf a millionairline tickets starting from Wednesday, such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19 fell %. Drop the interventions that we know have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to to... Many people have stopped wearing masks in public back in March effect on Hong Kong Chief Executive John announced. Scene mean for American fliers told reporters on Tuesday, Hong Kong Chief John... Southern India, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate starting March 1 and suggests that the city Kamala is..., 396,000 Filipino Read more: Hong Kong is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India on Kong! 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In 2017 which like Hong Kong is a clear message to show Hong Kong 's Executive. Air countries with mask mandates 2022 in China United Kingdom is home to more than four million Filipinos because children are at! Unlimited access as 6.4 % many places government imposed key responses such as a tight-fitting version... The success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries articles. Resilience by Bloomberg travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus Kong Photograph: ( Reuters ) journalist based Madurai... As leaders look to shift to an endemic phase issues continue to a... Plenty in Europe get COVID-19 vaccination still be worn in closed spaces to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited.. Recently removed the mandate, Hong Kongs mask mandate on February 17, 2022 fell %... Is one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs April 2022 many. And outdoor public locations since the beginning of the success stories in fight. Indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong campaign, the city 's leader John told.
