Unvaccinated may be banned from premises if the next Covid-19 wave hits HK

The unvaccinated may be restricted when entering premises like restaurants, schools, theaters, if there is another wave of Covid-19 outbreak, according to secretary for food and health Sophia Chan Siu-chee. 

Premises like residential halls, construction sites and museums are included as well, Chan said in a press conference today. 

Chan also said the risk of unvaccinated citizens catching the virus is higher and there will be stringent rules for them to follow, to prevent another large scale outbreak in the future. 

Quarantine period would be longer for them after they entered the city or they are listed as close-contacts of the infected. Workers of schools, medical centers and elderly homes will have to undergo more frequent virus tests. 

Chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she wishes not to see premises close everytime there is a virus outbreak in the city. The government hoped the vaccinated can maintain their normal lives even when the fifth wave hits the city, Lam added. 

Chan also announced that social distancing measures will be eased based on government’s vaccine bubble scheme. 

She pointed out that in restaurants, the vaccinated can gather more people at each table and are also allowed to stay later. 

Chan gave an example that in restaurants that operate under mode D, vaccinated diners can sit at the same table with family members who are unvaccinated due to age or other reasons. Twelve people could be allowed at a table if two-third of them are inoculated. 

For bars and Karaoke establishments, more people would be allowed at a table or in a room with total capacity of premises raised up to 75 percent or higher and service hours extended, given that all workers are vaccinated or undergo regular virus tests, and all customers have received the first dose of vaccines. 

Authorities will discuss with the industry this week and hope new arrangements could be imposed in mid-June.