At a press conference, Hong Kong's health chief said the travel ban applies to everyone who has stayed for more than two hours in the UK in the past 14 days, including Hong Kong residents.
Chan said the city's most stringent anti-epidemic measure yet is necessary to prevent the spread of the new variant.
She also ordered people who recently returned to Hong Kong from the UK to be quarantined at home for another seven days after they completed 14 days of isolation at government-designated quarantine hotels, until they test negative for COVID-19.
Countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada have already suspended flights from the UK because of the worsening novel coronavirus outbreak.
The government yesterday also announced all existing social distancing measures, such as a restaurant dine-in ban from 6 p.m. and the shutdown of businesses such as gyms and entertainment venues, will be extended by two more weeks to January 6.
– RTHK, MPD
File photo by China Daily
