HONG KONG: Hong Kong will ban all flights arriving from the United Kingdom from midnight on Monday (Dec 21), following the discovery of a new and highly infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain.
The city joins many European countries that have banned flights from Britain, including France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, several countries such as Canada, Iran and Saudi Arabia have also closed their doors to travellers from the UK.
The new strain could be up to 70 per cent more infectious, the United Kingdom has said.
Much is unknown about the strain, but experts said current vaccines should still be effective against it. The new strain has not been reported in Asia.
READ: Britain to hold crisis meeting over COVID-19 travel ban
READ: Britain says new COVID-19 strain 'out of control'
With authorities in the densely packed financial hub seeking to curb rising case numbers, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Monday there was a need to launch more vigorous and targeted measures to prevent further spreading of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.
"We are now at a very critical stage," Chan said at a news briefing. "During the fourth wave, we have seen that the virus is highly transmissible and patients' conditions are more severe than previously."
People arriving into Hong Kong from the United Kingdom prior to Dec 22 must quarantine for a total of 21 days, versus the previously mandated 14 days of quarantine. Chan said the government was monitoring whether to extend the quarantine duration for all arrivals.
Hong Kong saw a spike in the number of cases at the end of November which prompted authorities to once again shut down dining in restaurants after 6pm and close gyms and beauty salons. The measures will be in place until at least Jan 6, Chan said.
READ: Hong Kong bans dining in restaurants, announces new restrictions to curb 'severe' COVID-19 wave
READ: Singapore, Hong Kong to defer air travel bubble launch
OTHER COUNTRIES MONITORING NEW STRAIN
South Korea, which imposes a 14-day quarantine for everyone entering the country, said on Monday it was reviewing new measures for flights from the UK, and would test those coming in from Britain twice before they were released from quarantine.
Taiwan, which also has a 14-day quarantine, said on Sunday there were no plans at present to stop flights from Britain.
An Indian government committee tasked with monitoring the pandemic met on Monday to discuss the new strain, but it was unclear whether flights to the UK would be halted. The UK is one of 23 countries that India shares an "air bubble" with.
Japan, where entry from Britain is already banned in principle, said it would keep in close touch with other countries as well as the World Health Organization to see how the new type of virus was spreading.
CNA has contacted Singapore authorities on whether there are plans to review existing guidelines for flights from Britain.
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2020-12-21 08:26:15Z
CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vbmV3cy9hc2lhL2NvdmlkLTE5LXN0cmFpbi11ay1ob25nLWtvbmctYXNpYS1mbGlnaHRzLWNhbmNlbGxlZC0xMzgxNjc1MtIBAA
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