China To Drop Some Travel Tracking As It Relaxes COVID Rules
China recently said it's ending many of its COVID measures. It has enforced some of the world's tightest virus restrictions over the last three years.
LEARN MOREHong Kong to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong have been required to wear masks in indoor and outdoor public areas, with possible fines for violators.
Hong Kong to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
Andy Wong / AP
February 28, 2023
Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city's chief executive, John Lee, said masks will no longer be required both outdoors and indoors, including on public transit, but some high-risk areas including hospitals and elderly homes can still require their use.
Lee's announcement at a news briefing Tuesday came a day after neighboring Macao eased its mask rule and brings the financial hub closer to life in pre-pandemic days.
Lee said he made the decision because the city did not see a rebound in infections and has built an immunity barrier.
"In order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision," he said.
He said the return to normalcy would be beneficial to Hong Kong's economic development and international competitiveness.
For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong have been required to wear masks in indoor and outdoor public areas. Violators could be fined 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($637).
But some Hong Kong citizens said they will continue to wear a mask despite the lifting of the rule.
"Even though now the government says you don't have to have a mask from tomorrow, I've still got masks at home, and am still a bit worried about the pandemic situation, so probably I will continue to wear them for a little while," Harrison Yau said.
Hong Kong had largely followed mainland China's "zero COVID" strategy over the last three years and had some of the world's strictest anti-virus rules. In the last six months, the government has taken bigger steps to open up in an attempt to revive the economy and catch up with rivals such as Singapore.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
9:14
What living with long COVID is really like
Scripps News talked to a dozen people with long-term COVID symptoms about their current experience and their hope for the future.
New data links COVID-19 pandemic's origins to raccoon dogs
The discovery does not prove that raccoon dogs or any other animals infected with COVID triggered the pandemic.
0:36
China to reopen to tourists, resume all visas Wednesday
China had stuck to a harsh "zero-COVID" strategy involving sudden lockdowns and daily COVID-19 testing to try to stop the virus.
Top Stories
3:13
New Orleans man creates gym for amputees, quadriplegics
Mark Raymond Jr., who broke his neck in diving accident, runs a health club for people living with disabilities in New Orleans.
3:52
The WNBA is pushing to change its travel arrangements
WNBA players have to fly commercial, while other sports leagues and its male counterpart are able to charter flights.
9:14
Americans are being denied benefits because of a job list from 1938
There's a range of criteria for Americans to get social security and disability benefits, but some are denied because of an outdated index of jobs.
