Government announces adjustments to quarantine arrangements for inbound person

After reviewing the latest data, the Government announced today (August 8) enhanced isolation and quarantine arrangements for inbound persons. The testing arrangements will also be correspondingly adjusted. According to Government surveillance data, since the addition of the Day 3 nucleic acid test in early July in designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) during the quarantine period, about 80 per cent of imported cases were detected by the first two nucleic acid tests upon arrival at Hong Kong (i.e. "test-and-hold" at the airport and the Day 3 test in DQHs), among which some 50 per cent were detected by "test-and-hold" at the airport. As the overall positive case detection rate among inbound persons after the third day of quarantine in DQHs is lower than the positive case detection rate in the local community, mandating a longer period of DQH quarantine for the purpose of detecting a small number of imported cases is neither cost-effective nor precise and targeted, causing unnecessary disruption to travellers. Considering the position of Hong Kong as an international financial and commercial centre, including the need to connect with different parts of the world for maintaining various business travels and economic activities, after analysing factors including scientific data and balancing the transmission risks, the Government decided that from August 12 (Hong Kong time), inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan will be subject to quarantine under the "3+4" model, i.e. they will be subject to compulsory quarantine in DQHs for three days, followed by medical surveillance at home for four days, with multiple tests during medical surveillance and the monitoring period thereafter. They will be subject to Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass during medical surveillance period, and are not allowed to enter high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities, as well as other premises requiring key protection, for more targeted management and control of infection risks. The adjusted quarantine and testing arrangements are detailed as follows:(1) Adjusting compulsory quarantine and medical surveillance to the "3+4" model The quarantine arrangements for inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan will be adjusted: