Hong Kong strengthens quarantine arrangements for overseas arrivals

Entry quarantine measures extended to 26 countries in Europe's Schengen area

Hong Kong, March 15 (Reporter Chen Ran) On the evening of the 15th, the Hong Kong SAR Government announced that in view of the large-scale outbreaks of new coronavirus pneumonia in many places around the world, the SAR Government issued red travel alerts to Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States; Starting at 00:00 on the 19th, all immigrants from Egypt who visited the three countries on the 14th before arriving in Hong Kong and whose red outbound travel warnings are still in force are required to undergo mandatory home quarantine.

In addition, the SAR Government has issued red outbound travel warnings to 26 countries in the European Schengen Area on the 13th; starting at 00:00 on the 17th of this month, all immigrants who visited the European Schengen Area on the 14th before arriving in Hong Kong must undergo mandatory home quarantine. .

The European Schengen Area consists of 22 EU member states and 4 European Free Trade Association members, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A spokesman for the SAR Government's Department of Health said that the epidemic is spreading rapidly around the world, the number of confirmed cases in some countries has continued to rise, and local cases have spread; the Center for Health Protection has once again called on citizens to postpone or cancel all unnecessary outbound travel plans.

The spokesman emphasized that the SAR government would pay close attention to the epidemic situation in various places, review the feasibility of relevant health and quarantine measures from time to time, and ensure that the local medical system operates normally. When responding to the development of epidemics in other countries or regions, the SAR government will conduct detailed risk assessments. In addition to considering the number of infected people, their distribution and rate of increase, they will also consider local monitoring and control measures.

According to the current arrangements of the Department of Health, all immigrants who visited parts of South Korea (Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do), Iran, parts of Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto) on the 14th day before arriving in Hong Kong Must go to designated quarantine center for quarantine.