Hong Kong Government announced today (February 28) that all mandatory mask-wearing requirements will be lifted with effect from tomorrow (March 1), thereby enabling society to resume normalcy in full.
Hong Kong has already built up a strong immunity barrier, coupled with the enhancement of prevention and treatment capacities of the healthcare system and the handling capacity of society as a whole. The risk posed by COVID-19 to local public health has apparently altered. Having gone through three years of the COVID-19 epidemic, various monitoring indicators in epidemic activities are recently on a steady downward trend and the winter influenza season is also coming to an end. In addition, the community is in strong aspiration to resume full normalcy as early as possible. In light of the aforementioned factors, the Government has decided to lift all mask-wearing requirements with effect from tomorrow.
Starting tomorrow, citizens will no longer be required to wear masks mandatorily onboard a public transport carrier, within an MTR-paid area, or in a specified public place (including both indoor and outdoor areas), as well as in premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises).
A Government spokesman said, “The Government will keep on monitoring closely the epidemic development and the overall operation of the public healthcare system, with a view to safeguarding public health.”
