The Government announced today (June 15) that the boarding and quarantine requirements for persons arriving from Indonesia will be tightened from June 21.
     
     In view of the persistent unstable epidemic situation in the region, as well as the prevalent transmission of cases involving the more transmissible and potentially more serious mutant virus strains, and N501Y or relevant mutant virus strains detected from imported cases during their tests upon arrival or compulsory tests under quarantine in Hong Kong, the Government will specify Indonesia, which is currently a Group B specified place, as a Group A2 specified place with effect from June 21 upon close monitoring of the epidemic developments in the relevant places, the prevalence of mutant virus strains and the case importation risks that may be posed to Hong Kong.
     
     All persons who have stayed in any Group A2 specified place(s) on the day of boarding for Hong Kong or during the 21 days before that day will have to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft, as well as the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong. On arrival at Hong Kong, they will be subject to the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport, and on confirmation of negative test results, they will then be required to board the designated transport arranged by the Government to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for compulsory quarantine. They will be subject to 21-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with four tests to be conducted during the period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong at any Community Testing Centre. The shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated persons will not be applicable to persons arriving from and who have stayed in Group A2 specified place(s).
          
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures on June 21.
     
     "The Government will continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation of various places, the prevalence of new virus variants, vaccination progress, and changes in the volume of cross-boundary passenger traffic, and will adjust the boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from relevant places as the situation warrants," a Government spokesman said.
     
     Details on the grouping of specified places and their respective boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/high-risk-places.html.

Ends/Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:29

NNNN