People in Hong Kong no longer need to scan venue QR code in LHS app, effective 14 December 2022

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The government has adjusted five anti-epidemic measures. Others include lifting the Amber Code arrangement under the Vaccine Pass, and adjusting testing and home isolation arrangements.

Following the shortening of isolation and quarantine time for COVID-19 patients and close contacts to five days, the HKSAR government has further announced the adjustment of five anti-epidemic measures, starting from 00.00 am on 14 December 2022 (Wednesday).

Lifting the requirement of scanning the "LeaveHomeSafe" (LHS) venue QR code before entering premises

People are no longer required to scan the LHS venue QR code before entering premises (including government buildings and premises), and premises operators are no longer required to display LHS venue QR codes.

Other functions of the LHS mobile app such as storing Vaccine Pass, Testing Registration Code and testing records can still be used.

Meanwhile, the existing Vaccine Pass arrangement remains unchanged. Members of the public entering any premises to which the Vaccine Pass applies are still required to comply with the vaccination requirements (in general three doses for persons aged 12 or above; two doses for persons aged 5 to 11).

In premises with higher risk of transmission where members of the public would in general be mask-off for eating/drinking or activities, they are still required to present their Vaccine Pass QR code (through LHS, "iAM Smart" or "eHealth" mobile applications, or using paper copy/screenshots in mobile phone) to premises operators for checking with mobile application.

Click here to see applicable premises.

Lifting the Amber Code arrangement under the Vaccine Pass 

This means the restriction of entering various types of premises (including catering business premises) for inbound travellers from overseas places or Taiwan will be lifted.

Other than infected persons, who will be subject to the Red Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass, all other persons will be issued with Blue Code. 

Lifting the rapid nucleic acid test arrangement at control points for persons travelling to the Mainland

Relevant travellers will still be required to obtain a negative nucleic acid test result within 48 hours prior to boarding (for travellers departing via the airport) or departure (for travellers departing via land boundary control points) as required by the destination.

Inbound travellers from overseas places or Taiwan who comply with the relevant requirements for entering the Mainland may travel directly to the Mainland or Macao via Hong Kong control points (i.e. Shenzhen Bay Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, and the Hong Kong International Airport currently) without any waiting for conversion of the Amber Code to a Blue Code.

The relevant requirements include obtaining a negative nucleic acid test result conducted within 48 hours {including self-paid negative nucleic acid test result from community testing centres (CTCs)/community testing stations (CTSs)}.

Adjusting local testing strategies, including reducing the scope of target groups for regular nucleic acid testing

The relevant requirements for regular nucleic acid testing will only apply to high-risk group {i.e. the Hospital Authority staff, as well as staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs)}. 

The following groups will no longer be required to undergo regular nucleic acid testing under the new arrangement. However, the Government appeals to staff of the following establishments to conduct RAT on themselves on a regular basis and report a positive result, where applicable:

1. Airport staff;
2. Working staff of quarantine centres / facilities and relevant designated transport;
3. Staff of container terminals and shipping services;
4. Working staff of CTCs/CTSs and ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations;
5. Slaughterhouse practitioners;
6. Cold store practitioners;
7. Performers at catering premises/scheduled premises;
8. Crew members and passengers of "cruise-to-nowhere" itineraries;
9. Staff members of catering business/scheduled premises who do not meet the vaccination requirements under the Vaccine Pass;
10. Construction site personnel; and 
11. School staff.

The Government is in parallel reducing the issuance of compulsory testing notices to residential buildings gradually, and will abolish the testing arrangements for imported frozen food and its packaging samples. It will also review the demand for community testing and adjust the number and opening hours of CTCs/CTSs at an appropriate juncture.

Lifting the requirement for persons under home isolation to put on electronic wristbands

Government staff will continue to distribute anti-epidemic kits to infected persons under home isolation and close contacts under home quarantine, and ascertain whether the relevant individuals have stayed at their home by making random calls or conducting spot checks. 

Image / Shutterstock

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