HK Govt: People under compulsory quarantine must not wear mask with any exhalation valve

The Government on Wednesday (Nov. 24) issued directions under the law to stipulate that a person under compulsory quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel (DQH) and his or her accompanying carer must not wear a mask with any exhalation valve or vent.

During an earlier investigation of two confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Centre for Health Protection noted that a person concerned who was under compulsory quarantine at a DQH might have transmitted the virus to others because he was wearing a mask with an exhalation valve or vent while his hotel room door was opened.

To avoid a similar situation from recurring, the Government has updated the directions under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Requirements & Directions) (Business & Premises) Regulation.

The centre strongly advised the public against wearing masks with any exhalation valve or vent as these masks cannot effectively filter droplets in exhaled air. The risk posed to surrounding people will be increased if the wearer is infected with novel coronavirus or other respiratory viruses.

It also recommended that the relevant people should wear surgical masks properly during check-in or when the hotel room door is opened during the quarantine period to effectively prevent the COVID-19 transmission.

Hotel staff and air crew should remind guests and passengers respectively not to use masks with any exhalation valve or vent, the centre added.