Hong Kong Bans Flights From U.S., U.K., Six Other Nations

[SBFNews]

Hong Kong Bans Flights From U.S., U.K., Six Other Nations​

• Flight suspensions to take effect from Jan. 8 to Jan. 20
• Hong Kong government tightening social-distancing measures

Unvaccinated Areas Are Breeding Grounds for New Variants: UCL Biologist
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Unvaccinated Areas Are Breeding Grounds for New Variants: UCL Biologist
By
Shirley Zhao
, Alfred Liu
, and Jinshan Hong
+Follow
January 4, 2022, 8:53 PM ESTUpdated onJanuary 5, 2022, 3:42 AM EST

Hong Kong is banning flights from eight countries including the U.S. and U.K. for two weeks from Jan. 8, in a drastic tightening of rules as it rushes to plug holes that have seen the highly infectious omicron Covid-19 variant break through the city’s defenses.
The bans last until Jan. 20 and also apply to flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a news conference on Wednesday.
The government is also tightening social-distancing measures, banning evening dining-in at restaurants and closing venues including bars, gyms and bathhouses, Lam said, warning there may be “silent transmission” of the virus in the community. The moves come amid fears that the city’s low vaccination rate makes it uniquely vulnerable to a new outbreak as omicron arrives.





The flight bans are a sharp escalation in travel curbs that have already left the city largely cut off from the world, while keeping it mostly virus-free for over seven months. The government had already suspended two dozen individual airline routes in less than six weeks, throwing holiday travel into chaos.

The latest of those specific suspensions included routes flown by Hong Kong’s embattled flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., as well as Air India Ltd., Air Canada, Thai Airways International Pcl and Philippines AirAsia.

Infected travelers are being sent to North Lantau Hospital for treatment and isolation, but the facility appears to be reaching capacity already.
Garry Frenklah, a salesman who tested positive upon return from Australia, said staff told him he was put in a ward with three other Covid patients because there wasn’t enough space. The 54-year-old, who is not showing any symptoms, had asked to at least be put with other asymptomatic patients as he has a compromised immune system.
Staffing has also been an issue, Frenklah said, with sample collection -- scheduled for 8 a.m. -- more than an hour late, breakfast only provided at 10 a.m., and no doctors available at night.





H.K. Vaccine Surge Sees Majority Pick Sinovac Over BioNTech

The Hospital Authority, which operates public hospitals in Hong Kong, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
“It’s a system that’s been cobbled together in total haste without any consideration or safeguards, and it’s been carried out by people who are genuinely well-meaning and sympathetic but who are just cogs in the wheel,” he said.

NEW FLIGHT BANS	FROM	INFECTIONS FOUND
Cathay Pacific	Seoul	Three
Air India	Delhi	Three
Air Canada	Vancouver	Four
Thai Airways	Bangkok	Five
Philippines AirAsia	Manila	Eight

In addition to the individual flight route bans, carriers worldwide are scrapping services to Hong Kong due to the crackdown.
In the past week, 159 flights into the Asian financial hub have been pulled from this month’s schedules alone, cutting planned inbound flights in January to 872, according to aviation data company Cirium. Smaller cuts have been made to monthly schedules stretching out to at least November, the data show.

How Safe Is Flying With the Omicron Variant Surging?: QuickTake
Based in Hong Kong, Cathay is bearing the brunt of the government’s strict Covid countermeasures and a Covid Zero strategy that is increasingly strained as omicron spreads around the globe, accounting for the majority of new infections. The airline has had seven routes suspended since Christmas Day, including London, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The latest ban is for Cathay’s Seoul services after three passengers tested positive on arrival from the South Korean capital on Jan. 2.

Cathay shares dropped toward the end of trading in Hong Kong, sliding 2%, the most in a month.
— With assistance by Angus Whitley, and Felix Tam
(Updates with Cathay share price reaction. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the ban takes effect on Jan. 7.)

 

[bobby]

What HK ban...Sg will VTL.

 

[eatshitndie]

What HK ban...Sg will VTL.

direct vtl flights for sinkies and cecas cost more. they rather fly via hk to get cheaper economy seats. direct vtl flights to sg mostly or in fact sexclusively offered by sia, and minimum is premium economy. one sinkie couple was stopped by hk airport staffers from reboarding sq flight to sfo because their 24-hr antigen test bo pa kei in hk transit. so they had to fly back to sin to rebook direct flight to u.s.a. but because sin-sfo vtl sold out for weeks, they bo pian booked direct vtl flight from sin to l.a. and then rented a car in l.a. to drive to sf. but before flight they had to retake antigen test. arrived in l.a. and rental car sold out.

 

[Leongsam]

Why have they banned flights from these countries? Do they honestly think it would make any difference?

 

[eatshitndie]

Why have they banned flights from these countries? Do they honestly think it would make any difference?

just like prc, bogus zero xi virus policy.

 

[syed putra]

Cathay pacific will definitely go bust Unless they can try create a new hub somewhere immediately and bring all,their planes over.

 

[countryman]

Why have they banned flights from these countries? Do they honestly think it would make any difference?

The Hongkies are stupid.. It'll not solve the problem long run.

 

[red amoeba]

Y haven’t they banned Singapore flights ?