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While it isn't reflected yet on the CDC's Traveler's Health website, overnight the U.S. Department of State raised the threat level for Americans going to Hong Kong to their highest level (4), due to a combination of a rising level of COVID and `arbitrary enforcement of local laws'.
As we've discussed often over the past month (see here, here and here), Hong Kong has seen a 1000-fold increase in daily COVID cases since mid-January. Beijing has sent in `advisors' to assist the local government in controlling the epidemic, and there are constant fears of a strict lockdown (see Hong Kong Cases Reach New Heights (n=34,466) As Lockdown Rumors Increase).
Although the numbers haven't been officially posted as of this writing, local media are reporting a new daily record of more than 55,000 cases. In addition, hospitals are reportedly overrun, grocery store shelves are increasingly bare, and testing positive for the virus could easily land you an extended stay in a government quarantine facility.
With a full lockdown appearing increasingly likely, yesterday the U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory for Hong Kong. Follow the link to read it in its entirety, as I've only excerpted portions below:
The zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19 by the PRC and Hong Kong governments severely impacts travel and access to public services. All travelers should prepare to quarantine at a government-designated location for a minimum of 14 days upon arrival. While in quarantine, health authorities will test travelers as often as daily for COVID-19 and will not permit travelers to leave their rooms. Travelers who test positive during this quarantine time will be transferred to a government-designated medical facility. Standards of care, accommodations, testing, and treatments may differ considerably from standards in the United States. Even after completing quarantine on-arrival, travelers to the PRC and Hong Kong may face additional quarantines and mandatory testing as well as movement and access restrictions, including access to medical services and public transportation. In some cases, children in Hong Kong who test positive have been separated from their parents and kept in isolation until they meet local hospital discharge requirements.
Travelers within the PRC and Hong Kong may be subject to mandatory testing. In areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases, restrictions may include being confined to home or moved to a government- designated quarantine facility or hospital. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in the PRC, or the Consulate General Hong Kong's COVID-19 page for information on the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong as testing and travel requirements frequently change.
The following summary comes from the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong.
Travel Advisory Update for Hong Kong – Level 4: Do Not Travel (March 2, 2022)Home | News & Events | Travel Advisory Update for Hong Kong – Level 4: Do Not Travel (March 2, 2022)The Travel Advisory for Hong Kong has been updated to reflect health and security conditions on the ground. The Travel Advisory is now at Level 4: – Do Not Travel due to COVID-19 and COVID-19 related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated. U.S. citizens should also reconsider travel to Hong Kong due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
We made this update to reflect the current situation in Hong Kong, where a zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19 by the PRC and Hong Kong governments severely impacts travel and access to public services. We especially want to note for families considering traveling to or residing in Hong Kong that in some cases, children in Hong Kong who test positive have been separated from their parents and kept in isolation until they meet local hospital discharge requirements.
We also assess that the risks to U.S. citizens regarding arbitrary enforcement of laws are the same as in the rest of the PRC. Please read the entire Travel Advisory, available here. We also encourage U.S. citizens in Hong Kong to read our country-specific COVID-19 information on the Consulate website.
Assistance:+852 2841-2211+852 2523-9011 (after hours)State Department – Consular Affairs888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts
