Monday, 27 March, 2023
E-paper

Hong Kong ends mask mandate after 945 days

Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions.

The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said.

Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (£530; $640).

"With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday.

"In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed."

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.

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.

Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year.