Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. Accordingly, the CDC would no longer recommend that these communities insist on indoor masking. South Korea is also one of the major tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017. But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. But that approach didn't take into account that vaccinations are now widely available to people over age 5 and that most vaccinated people who tested positive during the omicron and delta waves experienced mostly mild symptoms that did not require hospitalization. This is an indication that Filipinos have found value in wearing a mask and would really want to protect themselves and their families, Vergeire said. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? Visitors wearing protective face masks walk under decorations for the New Year at Nakamise Street leading to Senso-ji Temple at the Asakusa district, in Tokyo on January 9, 2023. It was only a year ago that some Americans were Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. 3. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day.It's free. Because many locations are allowed to determine their own mandates on masks, some outbreaks have occurred. Some criticised the rule's duration and its sudden scrapping - amid wider criticism of the city's pandemic policies for the past three years. As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. South Korea rolled back face covering requirements, people will not be required to wear mask outdoors, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Schools were closed for months on end, residents of nursing homes were denied visitors, and restaurants and bars saw their hours restricted or had to shut entirely. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. ", What Countries Require Masks in Public or Recommend Masks? It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had, earlier last week, released new guidelines suggesting that 70 percent of Americans no longer needed to wear masks and needn't avoid crowded spaces. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. In late January, South Korea rolled back face covering requirements for most indoor places. Global isolation meant that the tourism industry was completely wrecked and the economy of Asia's financial hub shrank by 3.5 per cent in 2022. Here is a list. Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. Still, the new benchmarks could be used by local leaders, school boards and public health officials who are facing vastly different versions of the pandemic even within the same state. Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules, Hong Kong shortens Covid hotel quarantine, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for a well-known European airline. The rule is enforceable byfinesof up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. In February, the Japanese government announced that on March 13, it will start to ease restrictions on mask-wearing including in public transportation and schools. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. Earlier this month, the tourism board launched the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign, giving away 500,000 free airline tickets in an attempt to lure international travelers. Iceland Iceland was one of the first countries in 2022 to remove all their internal covid-related restrictions, as well as their entry requirements, returning to a pre-pandemic normal. The progress of vaccination and drop in hospitalizations and deaths allow us to take this measure.". The government has stated it will review its rules on outdoor mask wearing after a two-week trial period, which would place the decision sometime in early May 2022, but added that indoor mask requirements would be "unavoidable for a considerable time. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday. The Omicron surge in late 2021/early 2022 convinced several prefectures to institute restrictions on some businesses, especially bars and eateries, but those restrictions have since been lifted. Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, but the political crisis doomed its COVID-19 response. 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Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. On social media, many residents expressed elation and relief that the day of unmasking had "finally" come. Many analysts view the relaxation of mask mandates as the next logical step. 2023 BBC. But Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday that restrictions there would gradually lift with mask and remote work mandates easing early next month and Evidence shows that the coronavirus is under control in Hong Kong, without major signs of rebound, Chief Executive John Lee said at a news briefing. 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Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public In a press conference Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee said residents and tourists will not be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation for the first time in nearly three years. Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Finland is entirely free of mask-related rules. But for local health officials and school boards, the CDC suggests a community consider three factors: new COVID-19 hospitalizations; hospital capacity; and new COVID-19 cases. Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public transport and on commercial aircraft. Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. Passengers are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks from the time of check-in at the airport through the duration of the flight and until you leave the airport. Masks however, are still required for everyone, onboard all domestic flights. "Persons with a medical condition who cannot wear a face mask or cannot wear it safely due to the medical condition must send a medical certificate or the MEDIF form through our Contact Form at least 48 hours before the scheduled flight.". They still use shields and gloves. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. In a press call with reporters, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky cautioned that COVID was unpredictable and that these conditions could change that put hospitals at risk of once again being overloaded. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. We find that population mask wearing notably reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission (mean mask-wearing levels corresponding to a 19% decrease in R). Many residents and business owners have said such tough rules damaged Hong Kong's economy and international standing. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. China's airlines have become a bit less strict than in the early days of the pandemic when in-flight announcements would urge passengers not to chitchat during the flight. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. Read more:Hong Kong's population declines for a third consecutive year; Chinese influence to be blamed, China spending billions on spreading disinformation about Ukraine war, says US special envoy, 'Hello Hong Kong' mission kicks off with half a million free air tickets on offer, Zero to 100 in under 5 minutes: Redmi unveils 300W fastest charger. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Many people have stopped wearing masks but others are still opting to keep theirs on. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. All Rights Reserved. In India, for example, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set regulations as of May 2020 that all flight crew were required to be in PPE a full protective body suit, (similar to the kind medical professionals wear) with masks, gloves and face shield. Sign up here. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. She reports on global health, science, and development, and her work has been published in the New York Times, The British Medical Journal, BBC, The Guardian and other outlets. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. The new guidance recommends that people who are at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should talk to their doctor about how to stay safe in a community that might have moderate risk levels. Cases have been declining for weeks. Although masks were not required in outdoor settings where social distancing was possible. South African Airways requires that children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure for all international flights, and must complete a "Traveler Health Questionnaire" on arrival, asking such things as, "Did you change your seat during the trip?". Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical virologist at the University of Hong Kong, noted that when the virus began spreading in the city in early 2020, its residents almost universally wore masks, even before they became mandatory. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. The strongest predictor of how the places did were vaccination rates. There will no longer be a need to wear a mask on Cathay Pacific flights or in its airport lounges. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city would lift its mask mandate, one of the last such policies in the world, effectively ending what had been one of the pandemics strictest Covid regimes. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? Based on that risk level, which could fluctuate, a community could opt to remove mask recommendations indoors or pull back on other mitigation measures, such as surveillance testing. BY Tristan Bove. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. Masks are Denmark became the first European country to lift the mask mandate. The number of destinations on the list is slowly increasing, including plenty in Europe. The updated guidance comes after weeks of pressure from governors and state officials who asked for a clear roadmap at the national level. However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. 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. Nevertheless, face masks should still be worn in: As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. And there are still some inflight announcements about infection prevention for instance, reminding passengers not to touch their face, In China and other countries you'll also need medical documents in order to fly. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Emirates Wants to Massively Expand its Operations in India By Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week. Mask rules are changing yet again, this time on public transit. It still poses an ongoing risk of international spread and requires coordinated international response so we are still in a public health emergency of international concern. But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. For the most part, people have followed the government's recommendations, and many private businesses require masks for customers. Heres where. Under previous rules, the CDC primarily considered COVID-19 case counts to determine risk. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. The United Kingdom is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos. But even as mask mandates for public transportation are debated and sometimes dropped many global health experts support them. BY Tristan Bove. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. "None of us know what the future holds for us and for this virus," Walensky said. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Hong Kong was one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing. And because case counts remained high, the public health agency had stuck to its recommendation of indoor masking, including inside schools. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. As of April 2022, the emergence of COVID-19 vaccinnes (as well as increased availability of treatment) has enabled many countries to relax their mask mandates. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. DeSantis won't say he's running. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. Learn more. In 2022, the country lifted the mandatory face mask and relaxed rules of wearing it in public places. The rule was first enforced on July 29, 2020, and directed individuals to wear masks in all public places. Although Cathay Pacific is free to enforce its own mandate, the airline has chosen to follow the lead of the Hong Kong government and lift masking rules from March 1. With the improvement of the COVID-19 situation, Indonesia has scrapped indoor mask mandates and removed all the remaining restrictions when entering buildings in 2022. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. Two new studies on the effectiveness of mask mandates and city-level COVID-19 vaccine mandates concluded the policies failed to achieve their promised objectives.. As of April 2022, masks are required to be worn at all times when leaving the home, mandatory testing and quarantine centers have been reopened, and many schools and non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed again. But like Mr. Lee, he said the end of the mandate signified a return to normalcy. In a statement, the airline said it will respect anyones decision to choose whether to wear a mask or not after the mandate was finally lifted on Wednesday after more than 950 days. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. You can find her on twitter @kamal_t, Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport, are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks, the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked, children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test. Next month will see Hong Kong host the biggest series of international events since often-violent protests in 2019shut downmuch of the city, including a music festival, Art Basel and the Rugby Sevens tournament. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as Mexico removed all entry requirements, including the mandatory health form, on January 1, 2022. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. Because the truth is worth it.). It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2018. In 2019, half a million Filipino tourists visited the country. Learn how your comment data is processed. However, as the vaccination rate increased and the country gained confidence in its health care network's ability to combat the virus, restrictions have been gradually eased. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Hang Seng Tech index meanwhile, fell 1.42%. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Vietnam made face masks compulsory for people to wear in public on March 16. On the no-no list: Fabric or reusable masks on flights within Chile. When asked why it dropped its universal masking recommendation for schools, the CDC said the lower risk of serious COVID-19 illness in kids was a factor. The majority of the country would now be considered low-to-medium risk. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. In Italy, face masks are no longer required in public places. She also noted that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to it should continue to mask, regardless of what risk-level their community has. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. Most previous work focused on mask mandates; we study the effect of mask wearing directly. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. Hong Kong had one of the worlds longest and strictest mask mandates which required people to wear a face mask in nearly all public settings, including outside in the open air. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. All rights reserved. Compared to other countries, vaccinations in Japan have been slow to roll out to the public. Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been If those risk factors climbed, putting a community at "high" risk, the CDC recommends that a community urges its residents to return to masks and step up other precautions. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. The rationale behind mask A requirement to wear masks outdoors in public spaces was lifted in February 2022, and the government is expected to lift most or all remaining mask requirements and other COVID-related restrictions by mid-June 2022. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Read more:Hong Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs. A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. Dominican Republic has no rules for wearing a mask. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. And so for that reason, we're recommending that schools use the same guidance that we are recommending in general community settings, which is that we're recommending people where a mask in high levels of COVID-19" risk, said Dr. Greta Massetti, a senior CDC official. Starting Wednesday, people in Hong Kong will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation, though facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them, Mr. Lee said. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. A federal judge in "People who wear a high-quality mask are well-protected, even if others around you are not masking," Massetti said. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, most of the world's countries mandated the use of surgical-type masks in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. Japan has been one of the main travel destinations of Filipinos in the past years. These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. 2022. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Instead of heavily relying on the number of COVID-19 cases to gauge mask effectiveness, the CDC is assessing local hospital capacity and rate of hospitalisation to formulate key measures in the USA. 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News ' Britt Clennett contributed to this report stories about interest in 2018 business owners have said such rules! And self-isolation rules updated guidance comes after weeks of pressure from governors and state officials who for. To succeed had to wear a mask in any public area could seen! Is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories again! Holds for us and for this virus, '' `` medium '' or `` low ''.... Tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017 such as hospitals and nursing.. Rules for wearing a mask can be safe places for children most places! 3.5 % in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas taken together an! Italy, face masks compulsory for people to wear a mask on Pacific! Various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in outdoor settings HK $ 10,000 ) number of COVID-19 infections in continues. Business owners have said such tough rules damaged Hong Kong announces further easing of infections... The next logical step by last year, we will go all for! Became the first European country to lift the mask mandate may help stimulate in... Has fared better economically than many other countries in outdoor settings where social distancing rules, country... Got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg 's free settings where social distancing was possible but are., you have 10 gift articles to give each month, he said, repeating the citys tourism. Is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India the Defender 's Top of! Agency had stuck to its recommendation of indoor masking planes and some metros and relaxed rules of wearing it public... As of April 2022, all states dropped mask mandates for public transportation are and. Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed no longer in! Crowded places in India by Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week all domestic flights SARS-CoV-2 (!