Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines
1. Government maintains existing social distancing measures
The Government announced the gazettal of extension of existing social distancing measures for 14 days from January 21 till February 3.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/19/P2022011900634.htm
2. Government urges again residents and workers of Sham Shui Po district to undergo voluntary testing
The Government is highly concerned about the suspected silent transmission chains in Sham Shui Po district and has arranged eight service points for local residents and those working there to undergo testing on a voluntary basis. The Government urges again citizens in the district to undergo testing as soon as possible to help cut the silent transmission chains and achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment".
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/19/P2022011900792.htm
3. Scientific Committees under CHP update consensus interim recommendations on use of COVID-19 vaccines in children
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (JSC) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, joined by the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel (EAP) published an update of the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in children in Hong Kong. The JSC-EAP has no objection on allowing the use of CoronaVac vaccine (CoronaVac) in children aged five to 11 and the use of a fractional dose of the Comirnaty vaccine (Comirnaty) for adults in children of that age group.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700600.htm
4. Government extends place-specific flight suspension mechanism and tightens boarding and quarantine requirements for places with Omicron cases detected
The Government announced that the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States of America will be extended for 14 days to February 4. The Government will also specify Armenia, Bonaire, Guatemala and New Caledonia as Group A specified places from 0.00am on January 17 to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/14/P2022011400637.htm
5. Government tightens boarding and quarantine requirements for places with Omicron cases detected
In view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the places listed below will be specified as Group A specified places to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
· Armenia, Bonaire, Guatemala and New Caledonia from 0.00am on January 17
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/14/P2022011400637.htm
· Bhutan from 0.00am on January 19
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/16/P2022011600406.htm
· Honduras from 0.00am on January 21
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/18/P2022011800593.htm
· Papua New Guinea, Suriname from 0.00am on January 22
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/19/P2022011900524.htm
6. Government updates list of places of recognised vaccination records
The Government announced that it has concluded discussions with the Government of Colombia to accept vaccination records issued by that place as recognised vaccination records for Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified places under the mechanism. The relevant arrangements take effect at 0.00am on January 19.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700506.htm
7. Government suspends quarantine-free arrangements for arrivals from Zhuhai to Hong Kong through Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge under Return2hk and Come2hk Schemes
The Government announced that in light of the latest pandemic situation in the Mainland, Xiangzhou District of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province would be designated as one of the "at-risk places that are temporarily inapplicable under the Return2hk/Come2hk Scheme". Given the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai Port is situated in Xiangzhou District of Zhuhai, any person arriving from the Zhuhai Port to Hong Kong through HZMB are not exempted from compulsory quarantine under the Return2hk or Come2hk Scheme from 0.00am on January 18 onwards.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700689.htm
8. SWD announces implementation of "vaccine bubble" in RCHEs and RCHDs
In view of the Government's plan to implement "vaccine bubble" in government buildings and offices in mid-February, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced the implementation of "vaccine bubble" in all residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) starting from February 24.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/17/P2022011700609.htm
9. 46th round of compulsory testing for staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to commence shortly
The Government announced that the 46th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.
For details, refer to:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/14/P2022011300258.htmMore information on COVID-19 vaccines:
https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.
Department of Health
