Hong Kong Shortens Covid Isolation, Eases Testing for Travelers
- Isolation period cut to five days from seven starting Friday
- Official warns hospital system is under immense pressure
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Hong Kong shortened the isolation period for people who test positive for Covid and their close contacts, and will require inbound travelers to take two fewer rapid tests, as the city takes another cautious step toward a full reopening.
From Friday, people infected with Covid and their close contacts will be able to leave isolation if they test negative on both the fourth and fifth day, health official Libby Lee said at a briefing on Thursday. That’s down from the current rule of seven days and will apply to everyone, including people who are unvaccinated — who previously had to spend 14 days in isolation.