On Dec. 25, Hong Kong extended its quarantine period for all foreign travelers from 14 days to 21 days.
Officials said the move is intended to prevent the spread of a new COVID-19 variant detected in the United Kingdom.
“Noting the drastic change of the global pandemic situation with the new virus variant found in more countries, there is a need for the government to introduce resolute measures immediately, “a government spokesperson said in a statement.
Under the new restrictions, all passengers must immediately quarantine upon arrival.
On the 19th or 20th day after their arrival, they must undergo COVID-19 testing and continue to isolate until they receive a negative test result.
The 21-day quarantine, which is among the strictest in the world, applies to all passengers arriving from outside China.
In addition, Hong Kong is also banning all travelers who have visited South Africa in the past 21 days. The region banned all flights from the UK beginning Dec, 22.
The new measures come at a time when most other countries are reducing their quarantine restrictions and moving toward COVID-19 testing to prevent the spread of the virus.
Australia and New Zealand are the only other locations that ban most foreign arrivals and require long quarantine periods.
Hong Kong has experienced a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, with 57 new infections reported on Christmas Day alone.
Officials determined that 55 of the latest cases were locally transmitted, 25 came from untraceable sources and two came from passengers who had arrived from the UK. Approximately 50 preliminary-positive cases are still under investigation.
In total, the region has reported 8,481 coronavirus cases and 136 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic began.
Travel experts say the new restrictions will greatly reduce the number of airline passengers who arrive in Hong Kong each day, striking a major blow to the already struggling airline industry.