Hong Kong bans some inbound flights, tightens COVID-19 curbs

HONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Hong Kong introduced a two-week ban on incoming flights from eight nations, together with the USA and Britain, and tightened restrictions on Wednesday as authorities feared a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections.

The restrictions have been introduced as well being authorities scoured town for the contacts of a COVID-19 affected person, a few of whom had been aboard a Royal Caribbean (RCL.N) ship that was ordered to chop quick its “cruise to nowhere” and return to port.

Incoming flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the USA, together with interchanges, can be banned from Jan. 8 to Jan 21, Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam advised reporters.

Lam stated the federal government would ban indoor eating after 6.00 pm from Friday, and shut swimming swimming pools, sports activities centres, bars and golf equipment, museums, and different venues for not less than two weeks. Future cruise journeys can be cancelled.

“We’re but to see a fifth wave but, however we’re on the verge,” Lam stated.

Hong Kong recorded 38 new coronavirus circumstances on Wednesday, however just one was a area people transmission, whereas the remaining have been individuals who had returned to town and examined constructive throughout quarantine.

The worldwide finance hub has caught to a zero-tolerance technique by largely isolating itself from the world and imposing a draconian and expensive quarantine regime.

On Dec. 31, a streak of three months with out neighborhood circumstances ended with the primary native transmission of the Omicron variant. read more

Since then, authorities have scrambled to trace down and check lots of of people that had been in touch with a handful of Omicron sufferers. One affected person, nonetheless, had no identified hyperlinks, elevating fears of a giant outbreak.

“We’re fearful there could also be silent transmission chains in the neighborhood,” Lam stated.

Lam stated the federal government wouldn’t droop courses in the interim “for the advantage of youngsters”.

In response to the outbreak fears, Commonplace Chartered Plc (STAN.L) has began working in break up groups in Hong Kong, a financial institution spokesperson stated. read more

DANCING CLUSTER

The newest contact tracing marketing campaign was sparked by a affected person who danced with some 20 associates in a central park on New Yr’s Eve. Two of the man dancers, certainly one of whom was a home helper, got here up constructive in preliminary checks.

The helper’s employer and eight different of her shut contacts then went on a cruise on Jan. 2.

As a part of its coronavirus restrictions, Hong Kong has restricted cruises to quick journeys in close by waters, with ships requested to function at lowered capability and to solely permit vaccinated passengers who check adverse for the virus.

The “Spectrum of the Seas” ship, which returned a day early, had about 2,500 passengers and 1,200 employees on board. The 9 shut contact passengers examined adverse for the virus to date, authorities stated.

“Spectrum of the Seas is taking acceptable measures below tips by the Division of Well being,” Royal Caribbean advised Reuters in an announcement.

The 9 shut contacts have been despatched to a quarantine centre, whereas the remainder of the passengers and employees should bear a number of checks, the federal government stated.

Moreover, individuals who have been to dozens of locations throughout Hong Kong across the identical time because the shut contacts of latest sufferers have been issued obligatory testing notices, the federal government stated in a separate assertion.

Victoria Park, in downtown Hong Kong, the newly opened M+ trendy artwork museum, ferry piers, eating places, shops, clinics have been among the many locations listed.

Gabriel Leung, College of Hong Kong dean of drugs and a authorities adviser, advised public broadcaster RTHK there have been in all probability “five-to-10 invisible transmission chains” within the metropolis.

“There’s no time to waste,” Leung stated. “We want circuit-breaker measures.”

Reporting by Twinnie Siu, Jessie Pang, Edmond Ng, Donny Kwok and Marius Zaharia; writing by Marius Zaharia; Modifying by Michael Perry & Simon Cameron-Moore

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.