Hong Kong shortens quarantine time for arrivals from Feb 5

Starting February 5, the Hong Kong government will shorten the quarantine period for residents returning from high risk countries from 21 to 14 days. 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made the announcement on Thursday. 

She said those who are subjected to 21-day hotel quarantine will see the period shortened to two weeks.

Then they will undergo seven-day self-monitoring at home, during which they can go out and undergo two more Covid-19 tests. 

However, the flight ban for eight countries will be extended for two more weeks till February 18. 

The eight countries are Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

An extensive list of countries has been placed in Group A, meaning non-residents are banned from entry, and only vaccinated residents can return – with the condition of undergoing 21-day quarantine. The stay will be shortened to 14 days from February 4. 

Group A now includes Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Martin (French part), Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.