The fourth wave of Covid risks disrupting international air traffic. Hong Kong International Airport, one of the main hubs in the world, has decided to suspend the transit of passengers arriving from high-risk countries: the ban will be in effect from Sunday 16 January until next 15 February. Hong Kong considers over 100 countries to be at high risk.
The move comes as the city experienced an acceleration since the spread of Omicron, before the new wave – which authorities say could be traced to two crew members of the Cathay Pacific – the city had had no local broadcasts for over three months. .
The transit ban applies to all people who have stayed in places classified as high risk by the health authorities in the 21 days prior to travel. Flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Great Britain and the United States, including interchanges, were already banned last week. In recent weeks, local authorities pursuing Covid zero – like China – have tightened quarantine restrictions for aircrews and reintroduced limits on social life. Primary schools and kindergartens also closed.