Sharjah24 – Reuters: Hong Kong authorities said on Friday residents who have been fully vaccinated can spend a shorter time in quarantine if they have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient, after thousands of people were sent to tiny quarantine quarters for up to 21 days.
The new rule comes as the city government is trying to encourage people to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
Only about 14% of Hong Kong's 7.5 million people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine since a campaign was launched in February.
The city has some of the strictest quarantine measures globally with close contacts of coronavirus patients ordered to go to government quarantine for up to 21 days.
A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second of two vaccinations.
The Chinese special administrative region has kept COVID-19 transmission largely under control, recording more than 11,700 coronavirus cases and 210 deaths, much lower than many other developed cities.
Residents have been hesitant to take the vaccine due to worries over adverse reactions and lack of confidence in the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine. Hong Kong offers both Sinovac and Germany's BioNTech vaccines and residents can choose.
The Department of Health recently told all residents of several apartment complexes to spend 21 days in quarantine after COVID-19 cases were detected.
In response, thousands of people signed an online petition asking the government to allow home quarantine for those who have been vaccinated.
Hong Kong residents based in mainland China can return to the city under a quota system without having to spend time in quarantine.
For an optimal experience, please
