[TRAVEL ADVISORY] Additional Requirements for Passenger/s Travelling to Hong Kong

In response to COVID-19, the Hong Kong SAR government has recently announced new, additional entry requirements for passengers travelling to Hong Kong.

Starting from 25 July 2020, should your colleagues/customers be travelling from, or have travelled from the following countries within the last 14 days, they will be required to present additional documents in order to be permitted to enter Hong Kong.

·         Bangladesh

·         India

·         Indonesia

·         Nepal

·         Pakistan

·         The Philippines

·         South Africa

·         Kazakhstan (effective 29 Jul)

·         The United States (effective 29 Jul)

Additional entry documents

·     A test report (in English or Chinese) issued by a laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name customer identical to that in his/her valid travel document to show that:

o   they have undertaken a nucleic acid test for COVID-19; and

o   the sample for the test was taken within 72 hours of the scheduled time of departure of the flight to Hong Kong; and

o   the result of the test for COVID-19 was negative

Note: this test report can be in paper or electronic format

·         If the test report above is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all the above mentioned information, it is acceptable that the customer presents a written confirmation, in English or Chinese, issued by the laboratory or healthcare institution that contains the following information:

o   the name of the customer (this must be identical to that in his/her valid travel document).

o   that the customer underwent a nucleic acid test for COVID-19, the sample for which was taken within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the flight to Hong Kong.

o   the result of the test for COVID-19 was negative.

Note: This written confirmation must be presented with the test report.

Below terminologies are acceptable as proof of nucleic acid test (COVID-19 or SARS-

COV-2)

Nucleic acid test Nucleic test Nucleic acid amplification (NAA) test CBNAAT Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test Reverse-transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction TrueNat Test RT-PCR test RT-PCR Nucleic Acid Swab Test

Real Time Rt-PCR Test Real Time PCR Test One-step RT-qPCR test Ribonucleic acid test or simply ‘RNA test’ RNA Nasoph Swab Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Any other test with the keywords: ‘NAAT’, ‘PCR’ or ‘RNA’ test)

·     Documentary proof (in English or Chinese) to show that the laboratory or healthcare institution is ISO 15189 accredited or is recognised or approved by the relevant authority of the government of the place in which the laboratory or healthcare institution is located.

Note: For the documentary proof of ISO 15189 accreditation or recognition/approval by relevant authority of local government of the lab or healthcare institution, it can be in the form a copy of "Certificate of Accreditation", "Certificate of Compliance", or information printed out from an government official website.

Please click on the country for the available government websites of recognised or approved laboratories

o   The United States

o   The Philippines

o   India

o   Pakistan

o  South Africa

·         This documentary proof is required even if the test report from the laboratory or healthcare institution contains the ISO accreditation reference.

o   For customers departing from or who have transited the United States, a copy of a “Certificate of Accreditation” of the laboratory or healthcare institution that performed the nucleic acid test is acceptable for this requirement. The certificate must be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. Customers should be referred to their specific healthcare professional or provider for guidance on how to obtain a copy of this certificate.

     ·         A confirmation in English or Chinese of hotel reservation in Hong Kong for not less than 14 days starting on the day of the arrival of the relevant customer in Hong Kong

Notes on the hotel accommodation:

a) The confirmation can be shown in a printed or digital format.

b) The hotel requirement is compulsory for all customers arriving from one of the nine named countries - including Hong Kong residents even if they have a home or residential address in Hong Kong as they will be required to undertake their quarantine period at a hotel.

To ensure all our passengers meet these requirements, we will be asking them the following at check-in:

·         To sign a legal declaration detailing their travel history over the past 14 days. We will ask them specifically if they have visited Bangladesh India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, South Africa, Kazakhstan, or the United States of America. If the answer is ‘yes’, they will be required to show us the documentation mentioned above.

·         To demonstrate to us that they have completed the Hong Kong Department of Health online health declaration form by showing us the resulting QR code. This can be in a printed or digital format. More information on this form can be found here.

If passengers are unable to meet these requirements, we will, unfortunately, not be able to accept them for travel. Please refer to Cathay Pacific’s website for more information about ticket changes, should they need to postpone or cancel their journey.

Entry restriction exemptions

The following passengers are exempt from the aforementioned entry restrictions:

·         Passengers transiting in Hong Kong

·         Passengers falling within the categories listed on Hong Kong Government’s website, who are also being exempted from compulsory quarantine, if they are

o   travelling from the Mainland, Macao, Taiwan (please view the list here) or

o   travelling from other countries (please view the list here)

For more details regarding the latest travel restrictions, please visit the Hong Kong SAR

Government’s COVID-19 website and our COVID-19information centre.

Reference:  Cathay Pacific

How to protect yourself from the coronavirus or COVID-19?

With the continual spread of the coronavirus or COVID19, it is better to stay vigilant and follow these simple ways to prevent yourself from getting the disease.

• Wash your hands with soap or use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol with at least 70% solution.
• Sneeze and cough into tissues or the crook of your elbow. If you get mucus or spit on your skin, clean it off right away. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, especially people exhibiting respiratory symptoms and fever.
• Stay home when you're sick.
• Regularly and thoroughly clean surfaces, such as countertops and doorknobs, with a disinfectant. 
• If you are sick:  You should wear a facemask when you are around other people and practice distancing yourself.  
• For healthy people wear a mask only if you are caring for someone who is sick or a person with suspected COVID-19 infection. Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for the caregivers.
• If you choose to wear a facemask make sure it is covering your mouth and nose and leave no gaps between your face and the mask. 

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) & Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP)

Take care and stay safe, everyone.

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