Gov’t rolls out new arrival rules for foreign domestic helpers

They will no longer be required to undergo quarantine in designated hotels.

As part of the “0+3” arrangement, foreign domestic helpers entering Hong Kong from 26 September onwards will only be required to undergo medical surveillance for three days, followed by self-monitoring for four days.

This means that they will not be required to undergo quarantine in designated hotels.

“During medical surveillance, helpers are subject to daily rapid antigen tests (RATs) and must undergo a nucleic acid test on day two. Upon receipt of a negative result of the nucleic acid test on day 2, the helper’s Vaccine Pass will be changed to a blue code,” the labour department said.

“Upon completion of medical surveillance, helpers are subject to self-monitoring during the following four days and should conduct daily RATs until day seven. They must also take nucleic acid tests on days four and six,” the labour department added.

Employers were also given the chance to arrange where their helpers can stay to complete their three- days of medical surveillance and four days of self-monitoring.

“There is no need to make an application to the department to make such an arrangement,” the labour department said.

Meanwhile, helpers who arrived in the city before 26 September and are still under quarantine at designated hotels can leave on the same day.

“Helpers arriving between September 24 and 26 will still be subject to medical surveillance and amber code restrictions. If employers choose to let their helpers continue to stay at the hotels to complete medical surveillance and self-monitoring, they may liaise with the hotels on their own,” the labour department added.

Apart from the hotel quarantine removal, helpers will also just need to present a negative result of a RAT conducted within 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.