Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images 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. 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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. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. ", 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. 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. Estonia has no mask rules at this time. Hawaii An indoor mask mandate, the final statewide Many analysts view the relaxation of mask mandates as the next logical step. 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. The mask mandate for domestic U.S. flights has been lifted although it might come back. These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. Most states either don't have a statewide mask Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. 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 However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This is an indication that Filipinos have found value in wearing a mask and would really want to protect themselves and their families, Vergeire said. 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. "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. 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. However, masks must be worn at indoor places and public transport, where a vaccination pass is not needed. 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. France French residents and citizens do not have Hong Kong was one of the world's last masking holdouts. And not just any mask will do. 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 progress of vaccination and drop in hospitalizations and deaths allow us to take this measure.". More than 70% of Americans should be able to remove their masks indoors, including inside schools, under new metrics outlined Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that represent a seismic shift in how the public health agency plans to measure COVID-19 risk. There are no comments yet. Feb. 28, 2022, 12:34 PM PST / Updated April 21, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT. But like Mr. Lee, he said the end of the mandate signified a return to normalcy. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. However, the government has suggested that face coverings be worn in: France has stated that face masks would no longer be compulsory in public places that require vaccination passes. 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 Because the truth is worth it.). 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As of Wednesday, the city will no longer require people to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation. When asked why it dropped its universal masking recommendation for schools, the CDC said the lower risk of serious COVID-19 illness in kids was a factor. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. There are other precautionary measures for air travelers in China. Researchers found city-level vaccine mandates to have, at most, a negligible effect on COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas "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.". 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. 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. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism. 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, LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. China has a zero-COVID policy. Add your comment to start the conversation. The rule is enforceable byfinesof up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. 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. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. "It's not a good time to drop the interventions that we know have been effective. 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. Heres where. 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. 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. We are witnessing the Great Unmasking, with masks mandates falling faster, even, than plummeting Omicron caseloads. 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?". Finland is entirely free of mask-related rules. Hoping to revive tourism, the city recently announced plans to give away half a million plane tickets to foreign visitors, and the authorities have continued to roll back the remaining restrictions. It, however, still recommends wearing face masks indoors, and in public transportation, including airplanes and trains. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. According to reports, the country saw an exodus of 187,000 people in the last three years as residents escaped to safer pastures. 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. What's he waiting for? Hong Kong will end its mask mandate for indoors and outdoors on Wednesday, March 1 its Chief Executive John Lee said in a briefing. 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