Hong Kong plans to ease Covid flight-ban criteria, duration

Hong Kong is considering easing rules that see flights temporarily banned if they bring in a certain number of Covid-19 cases, amid pressure on the financial hub to loosen one of the world’s strictest pandemic travel regimes. Under the plan, which was first reported by the South China Morning Post, the threshold for triggering the suspension of a flight will be lifted to five or more cases from the current three, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News. Officials are also discussing whether to shorten the length of time flight routes are banned to around five days from seven, the people said, asking not to be named discussing information that isn’t yet public. It’s yet to be decided when the shift will be implemented, the people said, with one person saying any reduction in the ban’s duration needed approval from Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.<br/>