UK now in Hong Kong’s “very high-risk” list

Stricter requirements for travellers from UK will take effect on 28 June.

The United Kingdom, starting 28 June, will be identified as a “very high-risk” area after reports of a rebound in COVID-19 outbreak, including the spread of the virus with Delta variant, the Hong Kong government said.

Hong Kong had banned flights from the UK, along with Ireland, last year, but lifted restrictions in April and May after the outbreak receded. It also lowered the risk specification of the UK to “high-risk” last 4 June.

Read also: Hong Kong lifts UK, Ireland travel ban

“The Government will specify the UK, which is currently a Group B specified place, as a Group A2 specified place with effect from June 28, having closely monitored the epidemic developments there, the prevalence of mutant virus strains and the case importation risks that may be posed to Hong Kong,” the government said.

The “very high-risk” classification will require travellers who have stayed in the UK within 21 days before their flight to present a negative result of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours. They will also be subjected to a 21-day quarantine period.

Moreover, the Hong Kong government will also be adjusting boarding requirements for flights coming from high-risk places, starting 26 June.

Currently, persons who have stayed in any “extremely high-risk,” “very high-risk” and “high-risk” or Taiwan during the relevant period are required to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft.

The government will tighten the nucleic acid testing requirement. From June 26, the Government will specify that the relevant test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test.