Japan has been one of the main travel destinations of Filipinos in the past years. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. Compared to other countries, vaccinations in Japan have been slow to roll out to the public. "And we need to be prepared and we need to be ready for whatever comes next. Because many locations are allowed to determine their own mandates on masks, some outbreaks have occurred. 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. 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. The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. 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. 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. Hong Kong is one of the last cities globally to still have a mask mandate. 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. No spam, just a weekly roundup of the best aviation news that you don't want to miss. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. In 2022, there were 126,900 Filipinos who visited the country. It, however, still recommends wearing face masks indoors, and in public transportation, including airplanes and trains. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had, earlier last week, released new guidelines suggesting that 70 percent of Americans no longer needed to wear masks and needn't avoid crowded spaces. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. A mask can be the cheapest, simplest tool to protect you from infections in these situations.". Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. South Korea ended its indoor mask rule on January 30, 2023, but still recommends wearing masks, including in public transportation. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. 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. However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. 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. What are the CDC guidelines? Cloth masks were deemed no longer acceptable, and people were required to wear medical-grade masks. People have beenrequiredto wear masks in all public places, including outdoors, from July 29, 2020. Wearing a mask both indoors and outside was mandated in Italy throughout much of the pandemic. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). The Hang Seng Tech index There are other precautionary measures for air travelers in China. It was only a year ago that some Americans were Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. According to the Brazilian report, the governor of Sao Paulo city, Joao Doria tweeted, "Finally without masks. 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. The United Kingdom is home to an estimated 200,000 Filipinos. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Actor Woody Harrelson held nothing back during a February interview with The New York Times where he blasted mandates and COVID-19 protocols. Because the truth is worth it.). Most states either don't have a statewide mask mandate in place or have announced plans to drop their mandates soon. The population has fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. 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. 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. Philadelphia: Masks are currently required at the Philadelphia International Airport and in many of the citys indoor spaces, like restaurants, museums, sporting areas There will no longer be a need to wear a mask on Cathay Pacific flights or in its airport lounges. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. Now to There are no comments yet. The only places where masks are still required include hospitals and public transit. France French residents and citizens do not have Heres where. This is an indication that Filipinos have found value in wearing a mask and would really want to protect themselves and their families, Vergeire said. BY Tristan Bove. Vietnam is cited as one of the success stories in its fight against COVID-19 and has fared better economically than many other countries. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day.It's free. It also got the highest ranking in COVID-19 resilience by Bloomberg. 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. The progress of vaccination and drop in hospitalizations and deaths allow us to take this measure.". Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Feb. 28, 2022, 12:34 PM PST / Updated April 21, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT. DeSantis won't say he's running. Sign up here. Failing to comply with the rules could see authorities slapping a fine of up to $1,275 (HK$ 10,000). 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. ABC News' Britt Clennett contributed to this report. In Italy, face masks are no longer required in public places. 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. 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. Mask rules are changing yet again, this time on public transit. We didnt see that major difference with transmissions. Dominican Republic has no rules for wearing a mask. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. Photo/Matthew Busch/The New York Times / Various masks hang at a home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2022. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. The United Kingdom removed its mask restrictions for travelers in 2022. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter And Get News Delivered Straight To Your Inbox. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. New York state's school masking mandate will be lifted Wednesday, Gov. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. WATCH | Why Hong Kong residents are rushing to get Covid-19 vaccination? It, however, still recommends wearing masks indoors and in crowded places. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Ruling party wins Nigeria's presidential election, Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran, Finland starts construction of Russia border fence, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study, Pictures show devastation after Greece train disaster. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? For the most part, people have followed the government's recommendations, and many private businesses require masks for customers. India Dot Com Private Limited. South Korea has mandated mask-wearing in both indoor and outdoor public locations since the beginning of the pandemic. People wear face masks in the MTR station, a day before government gets rid of the mask rule in Hong Kong, Feb. 28, 2023. 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 FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. But in mid-March the rules were revised; PPEs are no longer required for cabin crew onboard. Flight crews have been subject to even more demanding requirements than passengers in many places. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. 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. Thepopulationhas fallen by a net 187,000 in the three years through 2022 as residents fled for other cities. Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (530; $640). Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News. 3. However, masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. China has a zero-COVID policy. 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. 2023 BBC. 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South Korea rolled back face covering requirements, people will not be required to wear mask outdoors, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Although masks were not required in outdoor settings where social distancing was possible. El Salvador no longer requires masks in public spaces. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. 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.. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. In a press conference Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee said residents and tourists will not be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation for the first time in nearly three years. Before the pandemic, almost 500,000 Filipino travelers visited Thailand. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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 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. All Rights Reserved. Masks were still required on public transportation and in health care facilities, but not in restaurants, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and other public places. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. 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. But as the pandemic situation continued to get better, the US government announced in 2022 that wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory. 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. (At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. 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, Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Taken together, an area to be "high," "medium" or "low" risk. But testing isn't 100% accurate and people aren't always 100% responsible for self-testing. 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. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. Speaking truth to power requires allies like you. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. A child acting as hallway monitor watches as children move about a hallway wearing COVID-19 protective masks at Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. By Sarah Jacoby. Your body temperature is measured when you enter an airport and again before boarding the plane. Learn more. LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful. 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. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation, as well as in hospitals and pharmacies. "People who wear a high-quality mask are well-protected, even if others around you are not masking," Massetti said. Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year. Hawaii An indoor mask mandate, the final statewide Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. Why is it important to subscribe? 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. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. "We think this is the best timing to make this decision. The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said. Under Cap 599I Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation, the government legislation that covers the mandate, residents have been He added that while well-fitting masks were highly effective in hospital settings, they were often removed in crowded restaurants and at home, limiting the protection they provided when community transmission was widespread. The number of destinations on the list is slowly increasing, including plenty in Europe. 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Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. The rule is enforceable byfinesof up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. Additionally, Hong Kong's population shrunk dramatically during the Covid period. 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. Cities globally to still have countries with mask mandates 2022 statewide mask mandate on February 17, 2022 contracting! | Why Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the governor of Sao city! 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