From the end of April, the Hong Kong will relax some of the coronavirus measures for residents who have been fully vaccinated, said the head of the metropolitan government Kari Lam, while the authorities are looking for ways to increase the acceptance of vaccines in the global financial hub.
The bars and pubs, which are currently closed, will be allowed to open in phases provided all staff and customers have been vaccinated, said Lam. Visits to public hospitals and nursing homes will also be allowed for those vaccinated, according to AMPE.
In a press conference today, Lam also said that the government is discussing further details and intends to relax the measures from April 29. This relief will only apply to residents who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccine rates have been sluggish since the start of the immunization program in Hong Kong in February due to limited confidence in the Chinese Sinovac vaccine and fears of side effects. Only about 8% of the metropolitan area’s 7.5 million inhabitants have been vaccinated so far.
“We would like to see the vaccination rate increase, at the moment it is not satisfactory,” Lam said.
Quarantine periods for fully vaccinated people arriving from low-risk countries such as Australia, Singapore and New Zealand can be reduced from 7 to 14 days and for those from medium-risk countries to 14 from 21 days. Lam stated that It is not yet clear when the easing of these quarantine measures will take effect.
Hong Kong began vaccinating residents with doses of the Sinovac vaccine in February and began offering the vaccine developed by BioNTech in March.
The BioNTech vaccine has been more widely accepted since it was introduced, with two to three times as many people making appointments to be vaccinated with the drug on a daily basis than with the Sinovac vaccine, according to authorities. Hong Kong residents have the option of getting the vaccine they want.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
