Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. 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. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Ruling party wins Nigeria's presidential election, Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran, Finland starts construction of Russia border fence, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study, Pictures show devastation after Greece train disaster. As the world continues to live and adapt to the pandemic, several countries, including the Philippines, have lifted the face mask requirement. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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 Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. Terms & Conditions. South Korea is also one of the major tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 response, March 18, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. Macau, the nearby gambling hub, which like Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, ended its outdoor mask mandate on Monday. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. 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. (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. The rule was first enforced on July 29, 2020, and directed individuals to wear masks in all public places. Because many locations are allowed to determine their own mandates on masks, some outbreaks have occurred. Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images 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. 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?". BY Tristan Bove. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. But Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday that restrictions there would gradually lift with mask and remote work mandates easing early next month and Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. Tourism numbers remain low. 2023 BBC. Some criticised the rule's duration and its sudden scrapping - amid wider criticism of the city's pandemic policies for the past three years. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. For business its a game changer, said Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd. Before, a lot of people would stay away from Hong Kong because the mask was showing that we were still stuck in the Covid days.. South Korea has mandated mask-wearing in both indoor and outdoor public locations since the beginning of the pandemic. There are other precautionary measures for air travelers in China. The majority of the country would now be considered low-to-medium risk. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. Still, the new benchmarks could be used by local leaders, school boards and public health officials who are facing vastly different versions of the pandemic even within the same state. Thepopulationhas 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. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. South Korea ended its indoor mask rule on January 30, 2023, but still recommends wearing masks, including in public transportation. In case of refusal to use it before or during the flight, you will be reported as an unruly passenger to the respective authorities. It's too premature," says Mike Toole, a founding member of Medicins sans Frontiers in Australia and an associate research fellow at Burnet Institute whose work revolves around infectious diseases and international health. However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. But as the pandemic situation continued to get better, the US government announced in 2022 that wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory. Learn more. But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. France only requires masks in health care facilities. Denmark became the first European country to lift the mask mandate. 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 Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. 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. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 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. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. Read more:Hong Kong's population declines for a third consecutive year; Chinese influence to be blamed, China spending billions on spreading disinformation about Ukraine war, says US special envoy, 'Hello Hong Kong' mission kicks off with half a million free air tickets on offer, Zero to 100 in under 5 minutes: Redmi unveils 300W fastest charger. 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. A child acting as hallway monitor watches as children move about a hallway wearing COVID-19 protective masks at Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Wearing face covers in open spaces is no longer a mandate in UAE. Before the pandemic, almost 500,000 Filipino travelers visited Thailand. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. 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. The Hang Seng Tech index Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. (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). 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. Although there is no legal mask mandate covering the entire country of Japan, there are strong recommendations to wear a mask in public. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. Feb. 28, 2022, 12:34 PM PST / Updated April 21, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT. It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. England has lifted the legal mandate on face coverings. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. In 2022, the country lifted the mandatory face mask and relaxed rules of wearing it in public places. The progress of vaccination and drop in hospitalizations and deaths allow us to take this measure.". 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. In the same month, further easing of the city's social distancing rules was announced and the previously mandatory negative COVID-19 RAT ( rapid antigen test) result requirement was also scrapped. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. After long 959 days or three years, the city of Hong Kong has finally bid adieu to the controversial COVID-19 mask mandate that was brought in to prevent the spread of the virus. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. 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. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. 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 He added that while well-fitting masks were highly effective in hospital settings, they were often removed in crowded restaurants and at home, limiting the protection they provided when community transmission was widespread. Now to Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, but the political crisis doomed its COVID-19 response. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been Hong Kong largely avoided mass outbreaks in the first two years of the pandemic by imposing tight border controls and social distancing policies, in an attempt to bring its caseload as close to zero as possible. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation, as well as in hospitals and pharmacies. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. But even as mask mandates for public transportation are debated and sometimes dropped many global health experts support them. As part of its Hello Hong Kong campaign, the city is giving away more thanhalf a millionairline tickets starting from Wednesday. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. 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. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. 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. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday. Indoor locations and public transportation required a mask, and people could be fined for failing to follow the rules. Almost 100,000 Filipino tourists arrived in Indonesia before the pandemic. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city would lift its mask mandate, one of the last such policies in the world, effectively ending what had been one of the pandemics strictest Covid regimes. The states masking rule for businesses and workplaces expired on Feb. 11. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. 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. 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. Once a saver, always a saver: Warren Buffett says generational wealth isnt what it used to be in his annual letter Its bigger than the housing crisis: An influential economist just blamed NIMBYs for American decline, and Elon Musk CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. For impactful stories you just cant miss, By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Estonia has no mask rules at this time. In late January, South Korea rolled back face covering requirements for most indoor places. Photo/Matthew Busch/The New York Times / Various masks hang at a home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2022. It, however, experienced a surge in April 2021. In a press conference on April 20, the director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Carissa Etienne, noted: "The WHO's emergency committee last week declared that the COVID health pandemic still constitutes an extraordinary event that continues to adversely affect the health of populations around the world. The one for schools expired on March 1. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. 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. WATCH |Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? Mask requirements may be a thing of the 3. 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. 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. In a press call with reporters, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky cautioned that COVID was unpredictable and that these conditions could change that put hospitals at risk of once again being overloaded. This move seeks to relax public health measures for economic and social activities. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. It, however, still recommends wearing face masks indoors, and in public transportation, including airplanes and trains. 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. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Accordingly, the CDC would no longer recommend that these communities insist on indoor masking. 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. Compared to other countries, vaccinations in Japan have been slow to roll out to the public. "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. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. Dominican Republic has no rules for wearing a mask. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. One of the 3, ended its indoor mask rule on January 30, 2023 but. 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