Many people have stopped wearing masks but others are still opting to keep theirs on. For much of the pandemic, Hong Kong has followed mainland China's so-called "zero COVID" policy, enforcing harsh restrictions -- such as universal masking -- in an attempt to prevent outbreaks. Indoor venues, such as casinos, can set requirements at their discretion. 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. 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. While Germany had seemed at times to have much of the virus under control, mask mandates and restrictions tightened in January 2021. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. 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 Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. The updated guidance comes after weeks of pressure from governors and state officials who asked for a clear roadmap at the national level. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. India Dot Com Private Limited. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. As the COVID-19 situation improved, the Thai government lifted its mask mandate in 2022 and allowed bars and other night venues to operate for longer hours. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy, Lee said. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for example. 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In a press call with reporters, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky cautioned that COVID was unpredictable and that these conditions could change that put hospitals at risk of once again being overloaded. Two new studies on the effectiveness of mask mandates and city-level COVID-19 vaccine mandates concluded the policies failed to achieve their promised objectives.. "With the masking requirement removed, we are starting to resume to normalcy comprehensively and that will be very beneficial to the economic development, our international competitiveness, as well as our activities which involve everyone in Hong Kong," Lee said. LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. 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 how your comment data is processed. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for Most previous work focused on mask mandates; we study the effect of mask wearing directly. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. Places where social distancing is not followed. But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. Your body temperature is measured when you enter an airport and again before boarding the plane. 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 Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Masks will still be required in health care settings. 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. Why is it important to subscribe? The strongest predictor of how the places did were vaccination rates. France With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in Read more:Hong Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs. Authorities claiming that the virus is no longer considered a 'critical threat'. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. "After looking at all the data, the trends and the fact that the winter surge [of influenza] is nearing the end, in order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming to normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision," Lee said. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. Tourism numbers remain low. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino Here are some countries mostly frequented by Filipinos that have eased or lifted the mandatory face mask protocol: Japan is one of the countries that controlled the spread of COVID-19 and has not seen a massive outbreak of the virus until 2021. 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. However, government officials have explicitly stated that plans could change as new data and/or disease cases emerge. While mask mandates and restrictions had started to relax in China in late 2021, the Omicron variant caused a resurgence in both COVID-19 cases and the addendant restrictions that accompany them in early 2022. Researchers found city-level vaccine mandates to have, at most, a negligible effect on But like Mr. Lee, he said the end of the mandate signified a return to normalcy. The CDC guidance is an acknowledgement that hospitalization rates in recent weeks have fallen dramatically and that highly vaccinated communities would be able to withstand an uptick in cases without overwhelming their local hospital systems. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. The United Kingdom is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful. 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. Masks were still required on public transportation and in health care facilities, but not in restaurants, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and other public places. Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. (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). 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. Add your comment to start the conversation. In a statement, the airline said it will respect anyones decision to choose whether to wear a mask or not after the mandate was finally lifted on Wednesday after more than 950 days. All Rights Reserved. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. In addition to masks, passengers are asked to bring their own gloves as an optional additional precautionary measure. It was only a year ago that some Americans were talking about wearing masks forever, becoming a society where it is normal to wear face coverings when we shop for groceries or go the gym, even after the urgent threat of COVID-19 was A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Your email address will not be published. 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. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Mask requirements may be a thing of the As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. It was only a year ago that some Americans were talking about wearing masks forever, becoming a society where it is normal to wear face coverings when we shop for groceries or go the gym, even after the urgent threat of COVID-19 was Still, the new benchmarks could be used by local leaders, school boards and public health officials who are facing vastly different versions of the pandemic even within the same state. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. Under the new metrics, more than half of U.S. counties, which make up about three-fourths of where Americans live, are now considered to be at "low" or "medium" risk because of a reduced number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and adequate hospital space. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. We are witnessing the Great Unmasking, with masks mandates falling faster, even, than plummeting Omicron caseloads. Although many indoor mask mandates are implemented at the city and county level, six states still have mandates in place: California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, It was only a year ago that some Americans were Hong Kong largely avoided mass outbreaks in the first two years of the pandemic by imposing tight border controls and social distancing policies, in an attempt to bring its caseload as close to zero as possible. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. 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. As part of its Hello Hong Kong campaign, the city is giving away more thanhalf a millionairline tickets starting from Wednesday. This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. France French residents and citizens do not have Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. 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. Speaking truth to power requires allies like you. A child acting as hallway monitor watches as children move about a hallway wearing COVID-19 protective masks at Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Although there is no legal mask mandate covering the entire country of Japan, there are strong recommendations to wear a mask in public. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. El Salvador no longer requires masks in public spaces. But as the pandemic situation continued to get better, the US government announced in 2022 that wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city Hong Kong will end its mask mandate for indoors and outdoors on Wednesday, March 1 its Chief Executive John Lee said in a briefing. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). 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. Already have Rappler+? Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. South African Airways requires that children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure for all international flights, and must complete a "Traveler Health Questionnaire" on arrival, asking such things as, "Did you change your seat during the trip?". Heres where. Wearing a mask both indoors and outside was mandated in Italy throughout much of the pandemic. 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. She also noted that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to it should continue to mask, regardless of what risk-level their community has. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. "And we need to be prepared and we need to be ready for whatever comes next. 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. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 response, March 18, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. "You must wear your mask at all times throughout the flight, except when eating or drinking," is Egyptair's position. According to the Brazilian report, the governor of Sao Paulo city, Joao Doria tweeted, "Finally without masks. However, the situation is still in flux, with mandates often lifted or reinstated on a day-to-day basis as cases surge or wane in a given country or new COVID-19 variants emerge. But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. 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. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. 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. ), Two United Airlines Pilots Sent For Additional Training After Boeing 777 Plunges 1,425 Feet Within Seconds Just After Takeoff, The Super Bowl Has United Airlines Flight Attendants On The Look Out For Human Traffickers Ahead of Mega Event, Emirates Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2021, Emirates Cabin Crew Recruitment The Complete Guide And Step-By-Step Process 2021, The Emirates Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Open Day & Assessment Day 2018, Etihad Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, Etihad Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2021, British Airways Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2022, NEW & UPDATED: British Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, The British Airways Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Assessment Day, The Qatar Airways Cabin Crew Open Day and Assessment Day: What Really Happens? However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. As of Wednesday, the city will no longer require people to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation. Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. It, however, still recommends wearing face masks indoors, and in public transportation, including airplanes and trains. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Some criticised the rule's duration and its sudden scrapping - amid wider criticism of the city's pandemic policies for the past three years. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. 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