A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". 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. Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino 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. India Dot Com Private Limited. Here are some countries mostly frequented by Filipinos that have eased or lifted the mandatory face mask protocol: Japan is one of the countries that controlled the spread of COVID-19 and has not seen a massive outbreak of the virus until 2021. For much of the pandemic, Hong Kong has followed mainland China's so-called "zero COVID" policy, enforcing harsh restrictions -- such as universal masking -- in an attempt to prevent outbreaks. Overall, Hong Kongs economy contracted by 6.1 percent in 2020; it rebounded in 2021, but shrank again in 2022. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices However, the Malaysian government imposed key responses such as expanding its testing capacity for COVID-19. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. Masks are still worn in several countries in Asia. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. We are witnessing the Great Unmasking, with masks mandates falling faster, even, than plummeting Omicron caseloads. Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. SIGHTSEEING SPOT. 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. Philadelphia: Masks are currently required at the Philadelphia International Airport and in many of the citys indoor spaces, like restaurants, museums, sporting areas According to the Brazilian report, the governor of Sao Paulo city, Joao Doria tweeted, "Finally without masks. hide caption. On social media, many residents expressed elation and relief that the day of unmasking had "finally" come. (The authorities see gloves as a deterrent to infection even though the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked). In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Global isolation meant that the tourism industry was completely wrecked and the economy of Asia's financial hub shrank by 3.5 per cent in 2022. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. Always keeping an ear close to the ground, Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage is frequently relied upon by some of the biggest names in journalism. Masks will still be required in health care settings. Harrelson Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. BY Tristan Bove. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. In the same month, further easing of the city's social distancing rules was announced and the previously mandatory negative COVID-19 RAT ( rapid antigen test) result requirement was also scrapped. That compares with 77% for Singapore. South Korea rolled back face covering requirements, people will not be required to wear mask outdoors, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Most states either don't have a statewide mask mandate in place or have announced plans to drop their mandates soon. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. 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. Hawaii An indoor mask mandate, the final statewide Finland is entirely free of mask-related rules. Almost 100,000 Filipino tourists arrived in Indonesia before the pandemic. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. The only exception is for children under 2 years of age and between 2 and 11 years old, for whom there is flexibility in the use of the mask. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. New York state's school masking mandate will be lifted Wednesday, Gov. In a bid to woo foreign visitors, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to give away half a million air tickets - beginning on Wednesday. Learn more. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. 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. Your email address will not be published. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. Now, Berlin and Brandenburg are the first of Germany's 16 federal states considering a reintroduction of mandatory masks for indoor public spaces, at least in retail. Mask mandates stretching for years on end are going to run out of steam in terms of how effective they are, Dr. Sridhar said. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday. Thailand was able to keep the number of COVID-19 cases low in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020 due to its early lockdown and effective contact tracing strategy. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. The omicron wave, which infected a vast majority of the country, also boosted the nation's immunity from prior infection for the timebeing. ", What Countries Require Masks in Public or Recommend Masks? But as the pandemic situation continued to get better, the US government announced in 2022 that wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory. "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday. Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. "After looking at all the data, the trends While the updated guidance drops the recommendation of universal masking in schools, the CDC said it is still reviewing a federal requirement that individuals wear masks on public transportation, including on airplanes. But like Mr. Lee, he said the end of the mandate signified a return to normalcy. Hong Kong was one of the world's last masking holdouts. Hong Kong to scrap almost all its Covid rules, Hong Kong shortens Covid hotel quarantine, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Mask rules are changing yet again, this time on public transit. The government has stated it will review its rules on outdoor mask wearing after a two-week trial period, which would place the decision sometime in early May 2022, but added that indoor mask requirements would be "unavoidable for a considerable time. Mask requirements may be a thing of the Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. However, the situation is still in flux, with mandates often lifted or reinstated on a day-to-day basis as cases surge or wane in a given country or new COVID-19 variants emerge. In 2022, the country lifted the mandatory face mask and relaxed rules of wearing it in public places. In late January, South Korea rolled back face covering requirements for most indoor places. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. Sign up here. As it reopened its borders, Singapore dropped mandatory mask requirements, both indoors and outdoors, in August 2022. But even as mask mandates for public transportation are debated and sometimes dropped many global health experts support them. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. Other Covid curbs in Hong Kong included strict quarantine rules, limitations on the number of people gathering in public places, as well as restricting visitors in nursing homes. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. 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. Many analysts view the relaxation of mask mandates as the next logical step. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. Thepopulationhas fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. 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. The CDC guidance is an acknowledgement that hospitalization rates in recent weeks have fallen dramatically and that highly vaccinated communities would be able to withstand an uptick in cases without overwhelming their local hospital systems. The city's gross domestic product fell by 3.5% last year. 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. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. 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?". Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). Hong Kong was one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing. In the end, the government gave little more than a days notice that the mandate would be scrapped seemingly in response to a similar policy shift from the autonomous region of Macau which is also able to set various policies independently of Beijing. 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. France With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in Compared to other countries, vaccinations in Japan have been slow to roll out to the public. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Hong Kong's Asian rival Singapore scrapped indoor face coverings in August, while South Korea did the same in January this year. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been In 2019, half a million Filipino tourists visited the country. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter And Get News Delivered Straight To Your Inbox. She also noted that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to it should continue to mask, regardless of what risk-level their community has. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. 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. After long 959 days or three years, the city of Hong Kong has finally bid adieu to the controversial COVID-19 mask mandate that was brought in to prevent the spread of the virus. The past three years of global isolation have weighed heavily on the citys economy and reputation. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. 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. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. South Korea ended its indoor mask rule on January 30, 2023, but still recommends wearing masks, including in public transportation. 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. But Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday that restrictions there would gradually lift with mask and remote work mandates easing early next month and On the no-no list: Fabric or reusable masks on flights within Chile. "After looking at all the data, the trends and the fact that the winter surge [of influenza] is nearing the end, in order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming to normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision," Lee said. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. As the number of COVID-19 infections in Spain continues to decline, the country recently removed the mandate for wearing masks in outdoor settings. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas 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 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. Denmark became the first European country to lift the mask mandate. Many residents and business owners have said such tough rules damaged Hong Kong's economy and international standing. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. In case of refusal to use it before or during the flight, you will be reported as an unruly passenger to the respective authorities. The Japanese government has said it will ease mask-wearing guidelines on 13 March, recommending masks only on trains and buses during rush hour, or where public transportation is particularly congested. 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. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2018. However, government officials have explicitly stated that plans could change as new data and/or disease cases emerge. The states masking rule for businesses and workplaces expired on Feb. 11. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Hong Kong had dropped most other pandemic restrictions by earlier this year. All Rights Reserved. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Indoor locations and public transportation required a mask, and people could be fined for failing to follow the rules. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Accordingly, the CDC now says individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should consider taking precautions, such as avoiding crowds and wearing a high-quality mask. On Tuesday, Hong Kong recorded just 96 COVID-19 cases, according to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection. Read more:Hong Kong announces further easing of COVID-19 curbs. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Under the new metrics, more than half of U.S. counties, which make up about three-fourths of where Americans live, are now considered to be at "low" or "medium" risk because of a reduced number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and adequate hospital space. And there are still some inflight announcements about infection prevention for instance, reminding passengers not to touch their face, In China and other countries you'll also need medical documents in order to fly. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). BY Tristan Bove. We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when our levels are low, and then have the ability to reach for them again if things get worse in the future.". "We know that also because children are relatively at lower risk from severe illness that schools can be safe places for children. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for example. DeSantis won't say he's running. 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 Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. Vietnam logged more than 100,000 Filipino visitors prior to the pandemic. This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. 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. LATAM airline, based in Santiago, Chile, has a lengthy mask dissertation: "No passenger may board the aircraft without a mask, or without its proper use. "We look forward to a better tomorrow, which is the 1st of March so that we can all put a smile on our faces say, 'Hello, Hong Kong,'" he said, according to Hong Kong Free Press. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Mexico removed all entry requirements, including the mandatory health form, on January 1, 2022. ), Two United Airlines Pilots Sent For Additional Training After Boeing 777 Plunges 1,425 Feet Within Seconds Just After Takeoff, The Super Bowl Has United Airlines Flight Attendants On The Look Out For Human Traffickers Ahead of Mega Event, Emirates Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2021, Emirates Cabin Crew Recruitment The Complete Guide And Step-By-Step Process 2021, The Emirates Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Open Day & Assessment Day 2018, Etihad Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, Etihad Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2021, British Airways Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2022, NEW & UPDATED: British Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, The British Airways Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Assessment Day, The Qatar Airways Cabin Crew Open Day and Assessment Day: What Really Happens? Leaders in Hong Kong hope the easing of requirements will help bring back tourists and businesses. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a Senate hearing on the COVID-19 response, March 18, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Because the truth is worth it.). Learn how your comment data is processed. Already have Rappler+? April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. Despite its proximity to China, the epicenter of COVID-19, Taiwan has been praised for its highly effective COVID-19 response, having had only less than 500 cases in the first few months of the pandemic. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day.It's free. Most previous work focused on mask mandates; we study the effect of mask wearing directly. From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy, Lee said. ", That's a position endorsed by Henry Wu, director of Emory TravelWell Center and an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine: "Airports see the greatest influx of people around the world. The new recommendations are a major change in how the federal government is approaching pandemic guidance. 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. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. Additionally, last week, the gambling hub of Macao said people will not be required to wear mask outdoors but will still be required in elderly care homes, hospitals and public transit. But some remain - primary and secondary school students still need to test daily for Covid, although some reports say this measure could be lifted later this month. However, after China dropped several of its stringent policies in December 2022 and Hong Kong followed suit, it led to a surge of cases not seen since March 2022, according to Our World in Data, which uses data from Johns Hopkins University. Hungary no longer requires masks anywhere. 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. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. Read about our approach to external linking. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. Hong Kongs tough Covid controls, which until last year also included limits on group gatherings, flight bans and long hotel quarantines, were criticized by business leaders and others, who said they were needlessly damaging peoples livelihoods, as well as the citys status as a finance center and a tourist destination. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. Two new studies on the effectiveness of mask mandates and city-level COVID-19 vaccine mandates concluded the policies failed to achieve their promised objectives.. 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. What's he waiting for? Miss a day, miss a lot. According to reports, the country saw an exodus of 187,000 people in the last three years as residents escaped to safer pastures. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. Starting Wednesday, people in Hong Kong will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation, though facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them, Mr. Lee said. Although many indoor mask mandates are implemented at the city and county level, six states still have mandates in place: California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, 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. 3. South Korea is also one of the major tourist destinations of Filipinos with 450,000 Filipino visitors in 2017. Emirates Wants to Massively Expand its Operations in India By Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week. As the world continues to live and adapt to the pandemic, several countries, including the Philippines, have lifted the face mask requirement. It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. And not just any mask will do. Anyone can read what you share. 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. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. There will no longer be a need to wear a mask on Cathay Pacific flights or in its airport lounges. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Your Complete Guide, The Qatar Airways Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Open Day & Assessment Day, flydubai Cabin Crew Recruitment Step-by-Step Process 2020, Norwegian Air Shuttle Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2020, Norwegian Air Shuttle Salary and Benefits 2020, Virgin Atlantic Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2020, Virgin Atlantic Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners Are to be Scrapped For Spare Parts in a World First, Just 11 Years After the Aircraft Made its First Commercial Flight, 24 Year Old Flight Attendant Died of Adult Sudden Death Syndrome After Suffering Mystery Heart Attack Shortly After Landing in London, Actor Dumped From Show After Being Charged With Indecent Assault On Malaysian Airlines to Australia, Airline Passengers Heading to Japan Will Soon No Longer Be Expected to Wear a Face Mask, Republicans Get Bill to Tear Down Vaccine Travel Mandate Through U.S. House But Biden Administration Still Supports Border Controls, Spain, the Last Country in Europe to Still Have an Airplane Face Mask Mandate, Finally Lifts Restrictions From Wednesday, United Flight Attendant Says She Feared Being Terminated During The Pandemic For Removing Her Face Mask to Prevent an Asthma Attack.