US, UK visitors to be quarantined on arrival

Visitors to four more countries will be quarantined when they arrive in Hong Kong. Image: Shutterstock

Visitors from more countries will be quarantined when they arrive in Hong Kong, as the government steps up surveillance of travellers to help stem the spread of the new coronavirus.



The government announced that from Thursday, people who have been to Britain, Ireland, the United States and Egypt in the past 14 days will be put under compulsory home quarantine upon arrival in Hong Kong.



This applies to both Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents.



A red outbound travel alert is now in effect for all those countries.



Cathay Pacific says it's adding additional flights to the US and London this week for Hongkongers wishing to return.



Similar quarantine measures are already in place for people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to South Korea, Iran, Hokkaido in Japan and Schengen area in Europe.



On the home quarantine requirement for those who have been to Britain, Ireland, the US and Egypt, health authorities said the capacity of quarantine facilities in Hong Kong is limited right now, and they need to be reserved for close contacts of confirmed cases.



The government again appealed to the public to avoid all non-essential travel.