Hong Kong may scrap mask mandate by early March

HONG KONG – Hong Kong might scrap its mask mandate as soon as early March, according to people familiar with the matter, a major step as one of the world’s last Covid-19 holdouts works to reclaim its status as a global business hub.

Indoor and outdoor mask requirements may be removed at the same time, though face coverings will still need to be worn at high-risk places including hospitals, the people said. The news was first reported on Monday by local daily Ming Pao.

The South China Morning Post reported on Monday that residents would be allowed to unmask “as early as Wednesday”. When asked for comment, the health bureau referred Bloomberg to recent remarks from Health Secretary Lo Chung Mau.

Professor Lo said in a Commercial Radio programme last Saturday that the authorities are examining data and plan to relax the mask mandate at a suitable time.

Hong Kong last week

extended mask regulations by two weeks to March 8,

even as it kicked off its pricey

“Hello Hong Kong” campaign aimed at luring back visitors.

The city is working to bolster its global footing again, giving away air tickets to tourists and again hosting VIP events including Art Basel – but masks have remained a deterrent and undermined the idea that everything is back to normal. 

The measures began almost three years ago as the city fought to keep the virus at bay, and have remained in place even as most of the world dropped pandemic-era restrictions. They are Hong Kong’s last pandemic restrictions, after the city eased most virus curbs and reopened to the world in December following China’s pivot away from zero-Covid. 

Neighbouring casino hub Macau

eased its own outdoor mask policy from Monday

, saying its Covid-19 situation was stable. 

Hong Kong leader John Lee has repeatedly said he hopes to remove the rule after the winter surge ends, but has not given further specifics. Bloomberg