Hong Kong reopens to those vaccinated – but what’s the catch?

Good news for those eager to travel – parts of the world is slowly reopening

Hong Kong will allow vaccinated tourists from all but 10 places in the world to enter the city starting from August 9…

It’s a significant easing of some of the tightest border curbs in the world.

Vaccinated visitors from countries now considered “medium-risk” — which includes the U.S. and Canada will be able to enter the city for the first time since the pandemic started.

There is a slight catch, however

Visitors and residents from medium-risk countries must spend seven days in hotel quarantine after they arrive.

Those entering Hong Kong will also be required to have a positive antibody test from a laboratory recognized by the Hong Kong government to prove they were vaccinated against Covid-19.

Antibody testing facilities at the airport will be available starting in mid-August, according to an official government statement.

Associated risk level:

For these “high-risk” places, only fully inoculated residents can return but they must serve a hotel quarantine period of 21 days.

Hong Kong has fully vaccinated 2.5 million people — about 33% of its population.