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. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2018. Now to Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. A sign on the door of a coffee shop in Manhattan ask for proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask on the day that a mask mandate went into effect in New York Add your comment to start the conversation. 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. New York state's school masking mandate will be lifted Wednesday, Gov. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. 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 The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. 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. Here is a list. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. 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. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. 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. It, however, experienced a surge in April 2021. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. "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.". Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). The Hang Seng Tech index meanwhile, fell 1.42%. 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. At least now tourists dont have to worry about being fined for not wearing a mask in the street, said Pamela Mak, president of Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association. 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. Wearing a mask both indoors and outside was mandated in Italy throughout much of the pandemic. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. South Korea is also one of the major tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017. 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. 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. This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. Miss a day, miss a lot. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. For the most part, people have followed the government's recommendations, and many private businesses require masks for customers. Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter And Get News Delivered Straight To Your Inbox. Cathay Pacific has told passengers who are nervous or uncomfortable around seatmates who choose not to wear a face mask on one of the airlines flights to postpone their travel plans after Hong Kong lifted its years-long mask mandate. The National Authority for Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management (NCEMA) has announced face covers to be optional. Although there is no legal mask mandate covering the entire country of Japan, there are strong recommendations to wear a mask in public. However, the government has suggested that face coverings be worn in: France has stated that face masks would no longer be compulsory in public places that require vaccination passes. In 2019, half a million Filipino tourists visited the country. People wear face masks in the MTR station, a day before government gets rid of the mask rule in Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2023. Cases have been declining for weeks. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. 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?". Masking up is still a requirement with a number of airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, South African Airways and Malaysian, to name a few. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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. In recent days, officials announced that visitors to hospitals and nursing homes would no longer have to show PCR test results, and that starting in March, students would not be required to take daily rapid antigen tests before attending school. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. While mask rules vary by park, they are still required on all forms of enclosed public transportation, the NPS noted. 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. 2022. Dominican Republic has no rules for wearing a mask. Rappler.com. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". The rationale behind mask But in the wake of the plummeting numbers and the soaring pandemic fatigue throughout the country, 49 states have announced plans to end their indoor mask mandates. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. 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. The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. Updated: 11:07 PM EST February 25, 2022. 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. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. BY Tristan Bove. People deserve choice in terms of how they are protecting themselves, and they have been doing this since the very first days of the pandemic, and they are going to continue to do that., Hong Kong, One of Worlds Last Holdouts, Ends Its Mask Mandate, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/world/asia/hong-kong-mask-mandate.html. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. The Hang Seng Tech index Although masks were not required in outdoor settings where social distancing was possible. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. We are witnessing the Great Unmasking, with masks mandates falling faster, even, than plummeting Omicron caseloads. 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. 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. The mask mandate for domestic U.S. flights has been lifted although it might come back. Read about our approach to external linking. What's he waiting for? On the no-no list: Fabric or reusable masks on flights within Chile. Indoor locations and public transportation required a mask, and people could be fined for failing to follow the rules. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. Thousands died, many of them seniors who had not been vaccinated. There were almost 500,000 Filipino tourists who arrived in Singapore in 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. 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. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that was greatly affected by the pandemic and had experienced surges of cases since 2020. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. Tourism numbers remain low. China has a zero-COVID policy. Offers may be subject to change without notice. A child acting as hallway monitor watches as children move about a hallway wearing COVID-19 protective masks at Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Because many locations are allowed to determine their own mandates on masks, some outbreaks have occurred. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? 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. Many residents and business owners have said such tough rules damaged Hong Kong's economy and international standing. 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. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. 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. "It's not a good time to drop the interventions that we know have been effective. These interventions made travel safer and possible, especially for senior citizens during the pandemic, says Toole, who is age 75. Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. The strongest predictor of how the places did were vaccination rates. More than 70% of Americans should be able to remove their masks indoors, including inside schools, under new metrics outlined Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that represent a seismic shift in how the public health agency plans to measure COVID-19 risk. ", What Countries Require Masks in Public or Recommend Masks? The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kongs push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. 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. Masks are 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 were still required on public transportation and in health care facilities, but not in restaurants, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and other public places. 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. Before the pandemic, almost 500,000 Filipino travelers visited Thailand. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. However, masks must be worn at indoor places and public transport, where a vaccination pass is not needed. But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Hong Kong was one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing. But like Mr. Lee, he said the end of the mandate signified a return to normalcy. The number of destinations on the list is slowly increasing, including plenty in Europe. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. 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. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Vietnam made face masks compulsory for people to wear in public on March 16. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for We didnt see that major difference with transmissions. Macau, the nearby gambling hub, which like Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, ended its outdoor mask mandate on Monday. Under the mandate, which took effect in July 2020, people who failed to wear masks in public could be fined about $635. Thepopulationhas fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. Many analysts view the relaxation of mask mandates as the next logical step. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. For business its a game changer, said Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd. Before, a lot of people would stay away from Hong Kong because the mask was showing that we were still stuck in the Covid days.. Hong Kong will end its mask mandate for indoors and outdoors on Wednesday, March 1 its Chief Executive John Lee said in a briefing. Philadelphia: Masks are currently required at the Philadelphia International Airport and in many of the citys indoor spaces, like restaurants, museums, sporting areas Most previous work focused on mask mandates; we study the effect of mask wearing directly. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day.It's free. After much criticism, the Hong Kong authorities in December last year decided to lift its contentious "amber code," which forced residents to use an app to enter any venue. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. 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. That compares with 77% for Singapore. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Hoping to revive tourism, the city recently announced plans to give away half a million plane tickets to foreign visitors, and the authorities have continued to roll back the remaining restrictions. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. 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. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. Harrelson conducted the interview to promote his new film Champions, but things took a turn when he was asked about his perspective on the movie business evolution since the 1990s. The airline is, however, aware that many Hong Kongers may feel nervous about being around unmasked passengers or crew members for long periods in these cases, the airline has asked nervous passengers not to fly until they feel comfortable around unmasked seatmates. 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. Compared to other countries, vaccinations in Japan have been slow to roll out to the public. Harrelson conducted the interview to promote his new film Champions, but things took a turn when he was asked about his perspective on the movie business evolution since the 1990s. Which other countries have lifted the mask mandate? A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. Mexico removed all entry requirements, including the mandatory health form, on January 1, 2022. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). 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 What are the CDC guidelines? 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