The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. And not just any mask will do. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In India, for example, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set regulations as of May 2020 that all flight crew were required to be in PPE a full protective body suit, (similar to the kind medical professionals wear) with masks, gloves and face shield. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. 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. 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. 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. Evidence shows that the coronavirus is under control in Hong Kong, without major signs of rebound, Chief Executive John Lee said at a news briefing. The United Kingdom is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. 3. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Under previous rules, the CDC primarily considered COVID-19 case counts to determine risk. 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. People wear face masks in the MTR station, a day before government gets rid of the mask rule in Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2023. China's airlines have become a bit less strict than in the early days of the pandemic when in-flight announcements would urge passengers not to chitchat during the flight. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. Macau, the nearby gambling hub, which like Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, ended its outdoor mask mandate on Monday. 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. Health Secretary Chung-mau Lo said the government would recommend that people who are immunocompromised or have upper respiratory issues continue to wear masks. Philadelphia: Masks are currently required at the Philadelphia International Airport and in many of the citys indoor spaces, like restaurants, museums, sporting areas The new recommendations are a major change in how the federal government is approaching pandemic guidance. 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. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for But for local health officials and school boards, the CDC suggests a community consider three factors: new COVID-19 hospitalizations; hospital capacity; and new COVID-19 cases. In a bid to woo foreign visitors, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to give away half a million air tickets - beginning on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. The mask mandate for domestic U.S. flights has been lifted although it might come back. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for example. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. "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. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? Vietnam logged more than 100,000 Filipino visitors prior to the pandemic. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. 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. Mask mandates stretching for years on end are going to run out of steam in terms of how effective they are, Dr. Sridhar said. Read more:Hong Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. 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. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2018. Updated: 11:07 PM EST February 25, 2022. Other Covid curbs in Hong Kong included strict quarantine rules, limitations on the number of people gathering in public places, as well as restricting visitors in nursing homes. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. Tourism numbers remain low. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. In addition to masks, passengers are asked to bring their own gloves as an optional additional precautionary measure. 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Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter And Get News Delivered Straight To Your Inbox. The move will come into effect from March 1 and suggests that the administration is looking to restore some semblance of normalcy. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. For impactful stories you just cant miss, By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. The states masking rule for businesses and workplaces expired on Feb. 11. Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been 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. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. They still use shields and gloves. All Rights Reserved. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. 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. All Rights Reserved. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. For the most part, people have followed the government's recommendations, and many private businesses require masks for customers. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. Now, Berlin and Brandenburg are the first of Germany's 16 federal states considering a reintroduction of mandatory masks for indoor public spaces, at least in retail. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. And because case counts remained high, the public health agency had stuck to its recommendation of indoor masking, including inside schools. Hong Kong has largely followed mainland China's lead in efforts to tackle the virus, including attempts to eliminate it with a "zero-Covid" strategy. At one stage, masks were required even when exercising. - Masks4All, Europe Travel: No Masks Needed In These EU Countries - Forbes, Countries That Have Removed All Internal Covid Restrictions - Travel Off Path, Some countries in Latin America end face mask rules - AA. Rappler.com. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. Although there is no legal mask mandate covering the entire country of Japan, there are strong recommendations to wear a mask in public. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. France French residents and citizens do not have Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. 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. 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