Estonia has no mask rules at this time. But for local health officials and school boards, the CDC suggests a community consider three factors: new COVID-19 hospitalizations; hospital capacity; and new COVID-19 cases. In the end, the government gave little more than a days notice that the mandate would be scrapped seemingly in response to a similar policy shift from the autonomous region of Macau which is also able to set various policies independently of Beijing. Thailand was able to keep the number of COVID-19 cases low in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020 due to its early lockdown and effective contact tracing strategy. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories. Passengers are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks from the time of check-in at the airport through the duration of the flight and until you leave the airport. People have beenrequiredto wear masks in all public places, including outdoors, from July 29, 2020. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. 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 a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Read about our approach to external linking. Hong Kong had dropped most other pandemic restrictions by earlier this year. 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. A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". Terms & Conditions. Finland is entirely free of mask-related rules. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. Heres where. Many people have stopped wearing masks but others are still opting to keep theirs on. 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. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 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. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. Wearing face covers in open spaces is no longer a mandate in UAE. Denmark became the first European country to lift the mask mandate. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Hong Kongs tough Covid controls, which until last year also included limits on group gatherings, flight bans and long hotel quarantines, were criticized by business leaders and others, who said they were needlessly damaging peoples livelihoods, as well as the citys status as a finance center and a tourist destination. However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, but the political crisis doomed its COVID-19 response. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. 3. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. In a bid to woo foreign visitors, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to give away half a million air tickets - beginning on Wednesday. As of April 2022, masks are required to be worn at all times when leaving the home, mandatory testing and quarantine centers have been reopened, and many schools and non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed again. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. The following are the CDC guidelines in the USA for areas of: Wear if in contact with someone at high risk for severe illness, Masks required indoors and in public places. Once a saver, always a saver: Warren Buffett says generational wealth isnt what it used to be in his annual letter Its bigger than the housing crisis: An influential economist just blamed NIMBYs for American decline, and Elon Musk CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. After long 959 days or three years, the city of Hong Kong has finally bid adieu to the controversial COVID-19 mask mandate that was brought in to prevent the spread of the virus. Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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 Here is a list. The airline is, however, aware that many Hong Kongers may feel nervous about being around unmasked passengers or crew members for long periods in these cases, the airline has asked nervous passengers not to fly until they feel comfortable around unmasked seatmates. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. 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. Why is it important to subscribe? Because the truth is worth it.). (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. They still use shields and gloves. It's too premature," says Mike Toole, a founding member of Medicins sans Frontiers in Australia and an associate research fellow at Burnet Institute whose work revolves around infectious diseases and international health. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Despite its proximity to China, the epicenter of COVID-19, Taiwan has been praised for its highly effective COVID-19 response, having had only less than 500 cases in the first few months of the pandemic. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. The Hang Seng Tech index meanwhile, fell 1.42%. The Omicron surge in late 2021/early 2022 convinced several prefectures to institute restrictions on some businesses, especially bars and eateries, but those restrictions have since been lifted. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. We use the largest wearing survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six 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. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. Thousands died, many of them seniors who had not been vaccinated. In February, the Japanese government announced that on March 13, it will start to ease restrictions on mask-wearing including in public transportation and schools. Anyone can read what you share. hide caption. "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. If those risk factors climbed, putting a community at "high" risk, the CDC recommends that a community urges its residents to return to masks and step up other precautions. 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. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. The new recommendations are a major change in how the federal government is approaching pandemic guidance. While mask rules vary by park, they are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation, the NPS noted. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. The move will come into effect from March 1 and suggests that the administration is looking to restore some semblance of normalcy. Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter And Get News Delivered Straight To Your Inbox. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. In 2022, there were 126,900 Filipinos who visited the country. (The authorities see gloves as a deterrent to infection even though the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked). Almost 100,000 Filipino tourists arrived in Indonesia before the pandemic. 2022. Always keeping an ear close to the ground, Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage is frequently relied upon by some of the biggest names in journalism. Visitors wearing protective face masks walk under decorations for the New Year at Nakamise Street leading to Senso-ji Temple at the Asakusa district, in Tokyo on January 9, 2023. 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Masks will still be required in health care settings. 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. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. Evidence shows that the coronavirus is under control in Hong Kong, without major signs of rebound, Chief Executive John Lee said at a news briefing. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. That compares with 77% for Singapore. However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. 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. 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. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. The city's gross domestic product fell by 3.5% last year. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. Now, Berlin and Brandenburg are the first of Germany's 16 federal states considering a reintroduction of mandatory masks for indoor public spaces, at least in retail. In 2022, the country lifted the mandatory face mask and relaxed rules of wearing it in public places. "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.". Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). "People who wear a high-quality mask are well-protected, even if others around you are not masking," Massetti said. Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. All Rights Reserved. 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. Which other countries have lifted the mask mandate? Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. But that approach didn't take into account that vaccinations are now widely available to people over age 5 and that most vaccinated people who tested positive during the omicron and delta waves experienced mostly mild symptoms that did not require hospitalization. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. And there are still some inflight announcements about infection prevention for instance, reminding passengers not to touch their face, In China and other countries you'll also need medical documents in order to fly. There are no comments yet. The past three years of global isolation have weighed heavily on the citys economy and reputation. In the same month, further easing of the city's social distancing rules was announced and the previously mandatory negative COVID-19 RAT ( rapid antigen test) result requirement was also scrapped. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation, as well as in hospitals and pharmacies. "None of us know what the future holds for us and for this virus," Walensky said. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Cathay Pacific has told passengers who are nervous or uncomfortable around seatmates who choose not to wear a face mask on one of the airlines flights to postpone their travel plans after Hong Kong lifted its years-long mask mandate. Harrelson These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. For the most part, people have followed the government's recommendations, and many private businesses require masks for customers. BY Tristan Bove. What's he waiting for? Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. Read more:Hong Kong's population declines for a third consecutive year; Chinese influence to be blamed, China spending billions on spreading disinformation about Ukraine war, says US special envoy, 'Hello Hong Kong' mission kicks off with half a million free air tickets on offer, Zero to 100 in under 5 minutes: Redmi unveils 300W fastest charger. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. 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