Ivan Hung, government advisor on the pandemic, says he expects Hong Kong to gradually drop its remaining anti-COVID measures, with rules such as compulsory masking and daily tests for school pupils potentially gone in weeks.
Hung made the comments on Monday (Jan. 30) as the latest relaxation in Covid rules took effect, with people confirmed to have the virus no longer having to report their infection to the authorities or isolate themselves, as the SAR starts treating Covid like other respiratory illnesses.
The Univeristy of Hong Kong respiratory medicine specialist also said he felt the latest shift in policy was unlikely to lead to a mass outbreak.
"Basically we are now treating COVID as one of the upper respiratory tract infections, just like infuenza or other infections, and we are now transition from a pandemic to an endemic phase," he said.
"The mask mandate will also be scrapped, possibly in a few weeks' time, and we're basically moving back to a normal state."
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