The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kongs push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Tourists along the promenade in the Tsim Sha Tsui area in Hong Kong, on Feb. 28, 2023. Accordingly, the CDC now says individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should consider taking precautions, such as avoiding crowds and wearing a high-quality mask. 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. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. Nevertheless, face masks should still be worn in: As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. 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. Which other countries have lifted the mask mandate? The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas Places where social distancing is not followed. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake, What we've learned from Alex Murdaugh murder trial. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. We find that population mask wearing notably reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission (mean mask-wearing levels corresponding to a 19% decrease in R). Sign up here. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. A requirement to wear masks outdoors in public spaces was lifted in February 2022, and the government is expected to lift most or all remaining mask requirements and other COVID-related restrictions by mid-June 2022. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). Read about our approach to external linking. Accordingly, the CDC would no longer recommend that these communities insist on indoor masking. According to reports, the country saw an exodus of 187,000 people in the last three years as residents escaped to safer pastures. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. 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. Global isolation meant that the tourism industry was completely wrecked and the economy of Asia's financial hub shrank by 3.5 per cent in 2022. Masks however, are still required for everyone, onboard all domestic flights. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. You can find her on twitter @kamal_t, Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport, are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks, the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked, children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. Wearing face covers in open spaces is no longer a mandate in UAE. From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy, Lee said. What's he waiting for? But in the wake of the plummeting numbers and the soaring pandemic fatigue throughout the country, 49 states have announced plans to end their indoor mask mandates. 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. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. Most states either don't have a statewide mask "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. 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, 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. LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. Cases have been declining for weeks. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. However, masks must be worn at indoor places and public transport, where a vaccination pass is not needed. All Rights Reserved. Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that was greatly affected by the pandemic and had experienced surges of cases since 2020. It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. 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. 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. Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical virologist at the University of Hong Kong, noted that when the virus began spreading in the city in early 2020, its residents almost universally wore masks, even before they became mandatory. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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?". ", That's a position endorsed by Henry Wu, director of Emory TravelWell Center and an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine: "Airports see the greatest influx of people around the world. These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. However, government officials have explicitly stated that plans could change as new data and/or disease cases emerge. 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It, however, experienced a surge in April 2021. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? In a press conference Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee said residents and tourists will not be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation for the first time in nearly three years. Your body temperature is measured when you enter an airport and again before boarding the plane. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. And not just any mask will do. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. A sign on the door of a coffee shop in Manhattan ask for proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask on the day that a mask mandate went into effect in New York BY Tristan Bove. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. (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). Starting Wednesday, people in Hong Kong will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation, though facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them, Mr. Lee said. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. The US is one of the countries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the early stages of the outbreak with a recorded 103 million cases. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. It was only a year ago that some Americans were However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. In fact, he thinks masking is more important than ever because governments may be relying on people to be responsible, self-test and not fly if they test positive for COVID. The rationale behind mask But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. Because many locations are allowed to determine their own mandates on masks, some outbreaks have occurred. Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules, Hong Kong shortens Covid hotel quarantine, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In addition to masks, passengers are asked to bring their own gloves as an optional additional precautionary measure. The updated guidance comes after weeks of pressure from governors and state officials who asked for a clear roadmap at the national level. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. 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 United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. 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. 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. 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. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. While mask rules vary by park, they are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation, the NPS noted. 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. 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 With the removal of the mask mandate, Hong Kong will return to normal all around, and in this year and the coming year will go all out for the economy and development at full speed, Mr. Lee said. 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 On social media, many residents expressed elation and relief that the day of unmasking had "finally" come. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. In 2019, half a million Filipino tourists visited the country. All rights reserved. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day.It's free. People deserve choice in terms of how they are protecting themselves, and they have been doing this since the very first days of the pandemic, and they are going to continue to do that., Hong Kong, One of Worlds Last Holdouts, Ends Its Mask Mandate, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/world/asia/hong-kong-mask-mandate.html. The progress of vaccination and drop in hospitalizations and deaths allow us to take this measure.". 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. The strongest predictor of how the places did were vaccination rates. However, after China dropped several of its stringent policies in December 2022 and Hong Kong followed suit, it led to a surge of cases not seen since March 2022, according to Our World in Data, which uses data from Johns Hopkins University. 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. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. 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. 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. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. The city's gross domestic product fell by 3.5% last year. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Earlier this month, the tourism board launched the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign, giving away 500,000 free airline tickets in an attempt to lure international travelers. Shares of companies linked to tourism gained. 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. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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. Dominican Republic has no rules for wearing a mask. They still use shields and gloves. Hawaii An indoor mask mandate, the final statewide Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. 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. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. For impactful stories you just cant miss, By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. 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. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. 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. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. The omicron wave, which infected a vast majority of the country, also boosted the nation's immunity from prior infection for the timebeing. This other country in East Asia is also one of the major success stories in containing COVID-19 and has never experienced massive lockdowns like any other country. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. 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 The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for example. The new recommendations are a major change in how the federal government is approaching pandemic guidance. Thepopulationhas fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. South Korea ended its indoor mask rule on January 30, 2023, but still recommends wearing masks, including in public transportation. We didnt see that major difference with transmissions. Under the mandate, which took effect in July 2020, people who failed to wear masks in public could be fined about $635. The Japanese government has said it will ease mask-wearing guidelines on 13 March, recommending masks only on trains and buses during rush hour, or where public transportation is particularly congested. 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.. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, most of the world's countries mandated the use of surgical-type masks in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino Lo Chung-mau, director of the Medical and Health Bureau, said at the press conference that he expects cases of respiratory viruses, such he expects the peak to be short and that it will have very little impact on public health systems. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. 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. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. We use the largest wearing survey (n = 20 million) and obtain our estimates from regions across six Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. People wear face masks in the MTR station, a day before government gets rid of the mask rule in Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2023. 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