Hotel quarantine possibly cut to five days, followed by two-day home isolation: sources

The government is now considering easing the quarantine requirement to a “5+2” scheme, where returnees will be quarantined at designated hotels for five days and then at home for two more days, sources said. 

Sources continued that the government will further assess the relevant data and relax the quarantine requirements when preparation works are all done, including improving the speed and accuracy of the PCR tests. 

Currently, returnees who have received two Covid shots can choose to undergo isolation at designated hotels for seven days and then at home for the remaining seven days; or they can stay at the quarantine hotels for two weeks straight away. 

Incoming Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said earlier that he has been actively looking into reopening borders to international societies and minimizing the impact on inbound travelers brought by the anti-Covid curbs. 

The city’s new health minister Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong has the conditions to shorten quarantine to five days, with only 1 percent of travelers infected with the coronavirus. 

Lo continued that he would propose new measures as he assumes office on July 1 to cut restrictions on inbound travelers. 

On the other hand, arrivals to the mainland see the original requirement of two-week centralized isolation and the following seven-day medical surveillance at home cut to seven days and three days, respectively.   

Arrivals will also have to undergo PCR tests on the first three days, the fifth and seventh days during centralized isolation, and on the third day of home surveillance. 

The Covid response unit of the State Council said China will continue to stick to its strategies of dynamic Covid clearance and prevention of imported cases.