Coronavirus: Hong Kong cut quarantine for Covid-19 close contacts from 21 days to 14, so why not for travellers too?

A decision by Hong Kong authorities to cut their lengthiest quarantine period for close contacts of Covid-19 patients from 21 days to 14 has brought closer scrutiny to the city’s tough isolation regime, and prompted some local experts to argue the reduction should also apply to incoming travellers.

Infectious diseases specialists told the Post on Tuesday that symptoms of the Omicron variant emerged quicker – at about three days on average – providing the scientific basis for a cut in quarantine time.