The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is strengthening travel restrictions, quarantine rules and border control measures in its fight against the novel coronavirus after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the worldwide spread of COVID-19 a pandemic.

Hong Kong has set red travel alerts for Ireland, Britain and the United States in view of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the SAR government announced on March 15. 

From March 19, people who visited the three countries above and Egypt 14 days before their arrival in Hong Kong are subject to home quarantine. Before this regulation, Hong Kong has issued red travel alerts for 26 countries in the European Schengen area on March 13.

In addition, people who have visited parts of South Korea (Daegu and North Gyeongsang Road), Iran and Italy (Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto) 14 days before arrival in Hong Kong must stay in the designated health center for quarantine.

The spokesman for the Department of Health of the SAR government said that the epidemic is spreading rapidly all over the world, and the number of confirmed cases in some countries continues to rise with local transmission cases. The Health Protection Center once again called on the public to postpone or cancel travel plans.

The spokesman stressed that the HKSAR government will pay close attention to the pandemic situation, review the current quarantine measures from time to time, and ensure the normal operation of the local medical system.