The Government announced today it will tighten the measures for travellers who have stayed in Switzerland or the United Arab Emirates within 21 days before they board for Hong Kong.

The Food & Health Bureau said the global pandemic situation remains severe. The number of new cases had recently reached a record high of over five million cases in a week in early January, while the number of deaths had also reached a record of nearly 97,000 cases in a week in mid-January.

Hong Kong cannot afford to drop its guard on entry prevention and control measures.

The Secretary for Food & Health will publish in the Gazette updated specifications made under the Prevention Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation Cap 599H to include Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates under the very high-risk Group B specified places.

The relevant specifications will be effective from February 2 until further notice.

People arriving in Hong Kong who have stayed in Group B specified places on the day they board or during the 21 days before that day are required to present before boarding proof of a negative result of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the aircraft's scheduled time of departure.

They also have to present the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong for not less than 21 nights starting on the traveller's day of arrival. 

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