HONG KONG, March 21 — Hong Kong plans to relax some anti-Covid-19 measures next month, lifting a ban on flights from nine countries, reducing quarantine and reopening schools, after a backlash from business and residents.
A ban on flights from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and the United States will be lifted from April 1. Schools would resume face to face classes from April 19 while public venues including sports facilities would also reopen from April 21, she said. The densely packed city has recorded more than a million infections since the pandemic started and about 6,000 deaths — most of them in the past month. Authorities reported 14,068 new cases on Monday and 223 deaths.
Lam’s policy turnaround comes after her administration has been scolded repeatedly by politicians, pro-Beijing media and on Chinese social media, just weeks before the city is due to hold an election on May 8 to choose who will lead the territory for the next five years.A plan to carry out mass coronavirus testing would be put on hold, Lam said, citing experts who said it was not a suitable time.