The rule is enforceable byfinesof up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. "We look forward to a better tomorrow, which is the 1st of March so that we can all put a smile on our faces say, 'Hello, Hong Kong,'" he said, according to Hong Kong Free Press. China has a zero-COVID policy. All Rights Reserved. You can find her on twitter @kamal_t, Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport, are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks, the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked, children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test. While the updated guidance drops the recommendation of universal masking in schools, the CDC said it is still reviewing a federal requirement that individuals wear masks on public transportation, including on airplanes. Masking up is still a requirement with a number of airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, South African Airways and Malaysian, to name a few. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. At one stage, masks were required even when exercising. With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. In fact, he thinks masking is more important than ever because governments may be relying on people to be responsible, self-test and not fly if they test positive for COVID. Mask rules are changing yet again, this time on public transit. In late January, South Korea rolled back face covering requirements for most indoor places. This move seeks to relax public health measures for economic and social activities. Although masks were not required in outdoor settings where social distancing was possible. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino However, the government has suggested that face coverings be worn in: France has stated that face masks would no longer be compulsory in public places that require vaccination passes. Harrelson The only exception is for children under 2 years of age and between 2 and 11 years old, for whom there is flexibility in the use of the mask. ", That's a position endorsed by Henry Wu, director of Emory TravelWell Center and an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine: "Airports see the greatest influx of people around the world. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules, Hong Kong shortens Covid hotel quarantine, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. SIGHTSEEING SPOT. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city Your email address will not be published. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. As of April 2022, the emergence of COVID-19 vaccinnes (as well as increased availability of treatment) has enabled many countries to relax their mask mandates. That compares with 77% for Singapore. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. When asked why it dropped its universal masking recommendation for schools, the CDC said the lower risk of serious COVID-19 illness in kids was a factor. The government has stated it will review its rules on outdoor mask wearing after a two-week trial period, which would place the decision sometime in early May 2022, but added that indoor mask requirements would be "unavoidable for a considerable time. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. In 2022, the country lifted the mandatory face mask and relaxed rules of wearing it in public places. Hong Kong had one of the worlds longest and strictest mask mandates which required people to wear a face mask in nearly all public settings, including outside in the open air. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. Based on that risk level, which could fluctuate, a community could opt to remove mask recommendations indoors or pull back on other mitigation measures, such as surveillance testing. ", What Countries Require Masks in Public or Recommend Masks? By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. After much criticism, the Hong Kong authorities in December last year decided to lift its contentious "amber code," which forced residents to use an app to enter any venue. While mask rules vary by park, they are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation, the NPS noted. Next month will see Hong Kong host the biggest series of international events since often-violent protests in 2019shut downmuch of the city, including a music festival, Art Basel and the Rugby Sevens tournament. Learn more. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. Speaking truth to power requires allies like you. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. El Salvador no longer requires masks in public spaces. A sign on the door of a coffee shop in Manhattan ask for proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask on the day that a mask mandate went into effect in New York In 2019, half a million Filipino tourists visited the country. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. It, however, experienced a surge in April 2021. Harrelson conducted the interview to promote his new film Champions, but things took a turn when he was asked about his perspective on the movie business evolution since the 1990s. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. "Persons with a medical condition who cannot wear a face mask or cannot wear it safely due to the medical condition must send a medical certificate or the MEDIF form through our Contact Form at least 48 hours before the scheduled flight.". Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. It still poses an ongoing risk of international spread and requires coordinated international response so we are still in a public health emergency of international concern. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for a well-known European airline. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. What's he waiting for? Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? We use the largest wearing survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six All rights reserved. From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy, Lee said. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. At least now tourists dont have to worry about being fined for not wearing a mask in the street, said Pamela Mak, president of Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake, What we've learned from Alex Murdaugh murder trial. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. LATAM airline, based in Santiago, Chile, has a lengthy mask dissertation: "No passenger may board the aircraft without a mask, or without its proper use. Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. The guidance also is intended to give local officials a roadmap to re-imposing restrictions if another variant pops up, which health experts warn is a possibility. It, however, still recommends wearing face masks indoors, and in public transportation, including airplanes and trains. Sign up here. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Accordingly, the CDC would no longer recommend that these communities insist on indoor masking. This is an indication that Filipinos have found value in wearing a mask and would really want to protect themselves and their families, Vergeire said. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Ruling party wins Nigeria's presidential election, Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran, Finland starts construction of Russia border fence, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study, Pictures show devastation after Greece train disaster. England has lifted the legal mandate on face coverings. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Miss a day, miss a lot. Iceland Iceland was one of the first countries in 2022 to remove all their internal covid-related restrictions, as well as their entry requirements, returning to a pre-pandemic normal. The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kongs push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Terms & Conditions. Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Starting Wednesday, people in Hong Kong will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation, though facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them, Mr. Lee said. Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that was greatly affected by the pandemic and had experienced surges of cases since 2020. Add your comment to start the conversation. Instead of heavily relying on the number of COVID-19 cases to gauge mask effectiveness, the CDC is assessing local hospital capacity and rate of hospitalisation to formulate key measures in the USA. This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. Hawaii An indoor mask mandate, the final statewide However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. However, masks must be worn at indoor places and public transport, where a vaccination pass is not needed. Hungary no longer requires masks anywhere. The Hang Seng Tech index On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. Additionally, last week, the gambling hub of Macao said people will not be required to wear mask outdoors but will still be required in elderly care homes, hospitals and public transit. The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. The rule was first enforced on July 29, 2020, and directed individuals to wear masks in all public places. We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when our levels are low, and then have the ability to reach for them again if things get worse in the future.". S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Although Cathay Pacific is free to enforce its own mandate, the airline has chosen to follow the lead of the Hong Kong government and lift masking rules from March 1. As part of its Hello Hong Kong campaign, the city is giving away more thanhalf a millionairline tickets starting from Wednesday. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Wearing face covers in open spaces is no longer a mandate in UAE. Taiwan announced in February that it has lifted the indoor mask mandate and has eased other restrictions. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. Mexico removed all entry requirements, including the mandatory health form, on January 1, 2022. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation, as well as in hospitals and pharmacies. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public transport and on commercial aircraft. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. Your body temperature is measured when you enter an airport and again before boarding the plane. Nevertheless, face masks should still be worn in: As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. People deserve choice in terms of how they are protecting themselves, and they have been doing this since the very first days of the pandemic, and they are going to continue to do that., Hong Kong, One of Worlds Last Holdouts, Ends Its Mask Mandate, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/world/asia/hong-kong-mask-mandate.html. hide caption. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. She reports on global health, science, and development, and her work has been published in the New York Times, The British Medical Journal, BBC, The Guardian and other outlets. For business its a game changer, said Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd. Before, a lot of people would stay away from Hong Kong because the mask was showing that we were still stuck in the Covid days.. Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. Despite relaxing border rules late last year, Hong Kongs government had been reluctant to lift the mask mandate amidst calls from various medical professionals to keep the mandate in force for the foreseeable future. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Emirates Wants to Massively Expand its Operations in India By Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Under the mandate, which took effect in July 2020, people who failed to wear masks in public could be fined about $635. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. Hong Kong has largely followed mainland China's lead in efforts to tackle the virus, including attempts to eliminate it with a "zero-Covid" strategy. Macau, the nearby gambling hub, which like Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, ended its outdoor mask mandate on Monday. July 29, 2020, and self-isolation rules medium COVID-19 risk `` in this year and the year! Areas of low or medium risk campaign, the city 's leader John Lee said starting from Wednesday highly! 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