Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. According to the Brazilian report, the governor of Sao Paulo city, Joao Doria tweeted, "Finally without masks. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In India, for example, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set regulations as of May 2020 that all flight crew were required to be in PPE a full protective body suit, (similar to the kind medical professionals wear) with masks, gloves and face shield. Wearing a mask both indoors and outside was mandated in Italy throughout much of the pandemic. 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. 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. 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. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. "None of us know what the future holds for us and for this virus," Walensky said. There will no longer be a need to wear a mask on Cathay Pacific flights or in its airport lounges. Tourism numbers remain low. 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. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. The new metrics will place the majority of the country in low to medium COVID-19 risk. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area. 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. Lo Chung-mau, director of the Medical and Health Bureau, said at the press conference that he expects cases of respiratory viruses, such he expects the peak to be short and that it will have very little impact on public health systems. Masking up is still a requirement with a number of airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, South African Airways and Malaysian, to name a few. They still use shields and gloves. Rappler.com. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Here is a list. 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?". 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. BY Tristan Bove. Health Secretary Chung-mau Lo said the government would recommend that people who are immunocompromised or have upper respiratory issues continue to wear masks. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. 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. Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". Masks will still be required in health care settings. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories. 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As of April 2022, the emergence of COVID-19 vaccinnes (as well as increased availability of treatment) has enabled many countries to relax their mask mandates. The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. 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. Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, but the political crisis doomed its COVID-19 response. A requirement to wear masks outdoors in public spaces was lifted in February 2022, and the government is expected to lift most or all remaining mask requirements and other COVID-related restrictions by mid-June 2022. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful. 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. 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. 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. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake, What we've learned from Alex Murdaugh murder trial. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. As of April 2022, masks are required to be worn at all times when leaving the home, mandatory testing and quarantine centers have been reopened, and many schools and non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed again. Indoor venues, such as casinos, can set requirements at their discretion. Hungary no longer requires masks anywhere. 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. Now to 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. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. 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. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. But Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday that restrictions there would gradually lift with mask and remote work mandates easing early next month and The mask mandate for domestic U.S. flights has been lifted although it might come back. France only requires masks in health care facilities. 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. 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. 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. DeSantis won't say he's running. The US is one of the countries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the early stages of the outbreak with a recorded 103 million cases. However, masks must be worn at indoor places and public transport, where a vaccination pass is not needed. Upgrade to Rappler+ for exclusive content and unlimited access. But those measures could not contain the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus as 2022 began. 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. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. It was only a year ago that some Americans were talking about wearing masks forever, becoming a society where it is normal to wear face coverings when we shop for groceries or go the gym, even after the urgent threat of COVID-19 was It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. "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. As the COVID-19 situation improved, the Thai government lifted its mask mandate in 2022 and allowed bars and other night venues to operate for longer hours. When asked why it dropped its universal masking recommendation for schools, the CDC said the lower risk of serious COVID-19 illness in kids was a factor. Read about our approach to external linking. The majority of the country would now be considered low-to-medium risk. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. Emirates Wants to Massively Expand its Operations in India By Adding 50,000 Seats Per Week. Masks are All rights reserved. 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. With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022. 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. CDC has previously recommended wearing a high-quality mask, such as a tight-fitting N95 version and avoiding areas with low vaccination levels. 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. China has a zero-COVID policy. 2023 BBC. However, government officials have explicitly stated that plans could change as new data and/or disease cases emerge. 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. On the no-no list: Fabric or reusable masks on flights within Chile. But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. At one stage, masks were required even when exercising. Passengers are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks from the time of check-in at the airport through the duration of the flight and until you leave the airport. WATCH |Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? Photo/Matthew Busch/The New York Times / Various masks hang at a home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2022. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). The U.S. isn't the only country to have dropped mask requirements. Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. Mask requirements may be a thing of the Already have Rappler+? Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. unlikely to reach the United States market anytime soon, will end its aggressive but contentious vaccine mandate. 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. However, in light of the current vaccination reates and relatively low virus prevalence, the South Korean government announced in April 2022 that it would be lifting all social distancing rules. Japan has been one of the main travel destinations of Filipinos in the past years. "With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday. Hong Kong will end its mask mandate for indoors and outdoors on Wednesday, March 1 its Chief Executive John Lee said in a briefing. Vietnam logged more than 100,000 Filipino visitors prior to the pandemic. But even as mask mandates for public transportation are debated and sometimes dropped many global health experts support them. Earlier this month, the tourism board launched the "Hello Hong Kong" campaign, giving away 500,000 free airline tickets in an attempt to lure international travelers. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. The following are the CDC guidelines in the USA for areas of: Wear if in contact with someone at high risk for severe illness, Masks required indoors and in public places. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. In recent days, officials announced that visitors to hospitals and nursing homes would no longer have to show PCR test results, and that starting in March, students would not be required to take daily rapid antigen tests before attending school. LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. 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. 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. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. What are the CDC guidelines? Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. People have beenrequiredto wear masks in all public places, including outdoors, from July 29, 2020. New York state's school masking mandate will be lifted Wednesday, Gov. 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. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kongs push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. 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