Government announces details of Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme
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To further enhance the prevention of importation of cases and reduce the contact between returnees from overseas and local community, the Government will implement a new measure with effective from 0.00am on December 22, mandating all returnees from countries outside China to undergo 14-day compulsory quarantine at the designated quarantine hotels in accordance with the directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H).
A Government spokesman said, "As a designated quarantine hotel, the hotel must pass the inspection conducted by the Department of Health and relevant departments (including the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the Buildings Department) for ensuring that the design, facilities and workflow of the hotel fulfill the infection control requirements. The designated quarantine hotels can only receive returnees from countries outside China who need to undergo compulsory quarantine. The hotels also need to put in place stringent measures to restrict members of the public from accessing to the hotel premises other than the reception area, and disallow visitation to quarantine guests, with a view to minimising the risk of infection in the community. Upon implementation of this measure, the Government would deploy dedicated staff to inspect the designated quarantine hotels to ensure the Government’s requirements are complied with."
"Under the new measure, the Government would arrange dedicated transportation to send returnees to the designated quarantine hotels from airport and the Holding Centre for Test Result, for further reducing their contact with the community."
The Government thanks the hotel trade for its support to the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme. So far, there are 36 hotels in the first batch of designated quarantine hotels, altogether providing some 12 000 rooms of various prices and types (a list of hotels at Annex 1). Returnees can make bookings of the designated quarantine hotels through various channels (including the hotel’s official website and travel agencies). The Government will closely monitor the booking rate of the hotels and increase the supply of designated quarantine hotels as and when necessary.
The spokesman said, "Under the measure, there is a transition period allowing returnees arriving in Hong Kong and checking in at their hotel on or before December 21 to proceed to stay at any hotel they reserved until the completion of the 14-day quarantine period, so as to reduce the impact on the hotel trade and returnees."
A summary on the arrangements of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme is at Annex 2. Details of the Scheme is also available at the thematic webpage (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/designated-hotel.html).
Ends/Friday, December 11, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:19
Issued at HKT 21:19
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