countries with mask mandates 2022

In Italy, face masks are no longer required in public places. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times. The only places where masks are still required include hospitals and public transit. Then in February 2022, all states dropped mask mandates. As the COVID-19 situation improved, the Thai government lifted its mask mandate in 2022 and allowed bars and other night venues to operate for longer hours. Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, most of the world's countries mandated the use of surgical-type masks in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. The omicron wave, which infected a vast majority of the country, also boosted the nation's immunity from prior infection for the timebeing. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. While most countries across the globe opened up in a phased manner with the majority relaxing the mask mandate much earlier, Hong Kong continued to follow the line set by Beijing. Walensky said that a review of that requirement is ongoing and a decision will be made in the weeks ahead. Face coverings or masks were required at all shops, offices, and hairdressers. As of April 2022, masks are required to be worn at all times when leaving the home, mandatory testing and quarantine centers have been reopened, and many schools and non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed again. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. The Hang Seng index fell 0.69% as Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee announced to drop its mask mandate starting March 1. There were almost 500,000 Filipino tourists who arrived in Singapore in 2022. 3. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. However, Mexico still has various internal restrictionsincluding mandatory masks in most indoor spaces, social distancing rules, and self-isolation rules. Harrelson conducted the interview to promote his new film Champions, but things took a turn when he was asked about his perspective on the movie business evolution since the 1990s. Feb. 28, 2022, 12:34 PM PST / Updated April 21, 2022, 6:15 AM PDT. Despite relaxing border rules late last year, Hong Kongs government had been reluctant to lift the mask mandate amidst calls from various medical professionals to keep the mandate in force for the foreseeable future. Hong Kong had dropped most other pandemic restrictions by earlier this year. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Indoor venues, such as casinos, can set requirements at their discretion. On social media, many residents expressed elation and relief that the day of unmasking had "finally" come. Under the new metrics, more than half of U.S. counties, which make up about three-fourths of where Americans live, are now considered to be at "low" or "medium" risk because of a reduced number of new COVID-19 hospitalizations and adequate hospital space. You can find her on twitter @kamal_t, Here's why you might still want to wear masks on public transport, are required to wear medical surgical, KN95 or N95 masks, the value of gloves as a pandemic measure has been debated and basically debunked, children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test. Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. In case of refusal to use it before or during the flight, you will be reported as an unruly passenger to the respective authorities. Although many indoor mask mandates are implemented at the city and county level, six states still have mandates in place: California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, The severe covid restrictions had a negative effect on Hong Kong's economy. Accordingly, the CDC would no longer recommend that these communities insist on indoor masking. Checking with any international carrier before heading to the airport is still critical, says Wu. Here is a list. However many locals could be seen still wearing masks on Wednesday, local media reported. For impactful stories you just cant miss, By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. "And we need to be prepared and we need to be ready for whatever comes next. By last year, most European countries that had imposed mask rules had scaled them back everywhere except on planes and some metros. MANILA, Philippines The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted all countries worldwide to impose lockdown measures and travel restrictions to avoid spreading the virus. There are no comments yet. As of April 2022, the emergence of COVID-19 vaccinnes (as well as increased availability of treatment) has enabled many countries to relax their mask mandates. Based on that risk level, which could fluctuate, a community could opt to remove mask recommendations indoors or pull back on other mitigation measures, such as surveillance testing. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Starting Wednesday, people in Hong Kong will no longer be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation, though facilities like hospitals and nursing homes can still require them, Mr. Lee said. The same thing has happened in some countries in Latin America: Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, for This is definitely the most welcome news to us, not only for us being in Hong Kong, living in Hong Kong but also for us running the airline, Mandy Ng, chief executive officer of low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd., told Bloomberg Television. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. Masks are just one protective measure for these airline passengers arriving in Shanghai from Paris. Shares of companies linked to tourism gained. Mask mandates are still in effect in a small number of places. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. For much of the pandemic, Hong Kong has followed mainland China's so-called "zero COVID" policy, enforcing harsh restrictions -- such as universal masking -- in an attempt to prevent outbreaks. Masks however, are still required for everyone, onboard all domestic flights. Why is it important to subscribe? VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Harrelson Many countries have also implemented mask mandates in fact, more than the number of countries that have imposed vaccine mandates. Switzerland removed its indoor mask mandate on February 17, 2022. However, in light of the current vaccination reates and relatively low virus prevalence, the South Korean government announced in April 2022 that it would be lifting all social distancing rules. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. COLUMBUS, Ohio Masks will no longer be required for anyone on school buses, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. Add your comment to start the conversation. As of April 2022, many of these restrictions have been lifted, with masks required only in stores and on public transport. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. According to Tourism Malaysia, 396,000 Filipino tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in 2018. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Ruling party wins Nigeria's presidential election, Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran, Finland starts construction of Russia border fence, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study, Pictures show devastation after Greece train disaster. The controls, which changed frequently and with little warning, came at a heavy cost to residents and contributed to an exodus from the city. Several other countries and territories in Asia have been rolling back COVID-19 restrictions as leaders look to shift to an endemic phase. So what does the global mask scene mean for American fliers? In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Anyone can read what you share. Hong Kong largely avoided mass outbreaks in the first two years of the pandemic by imposing tight border controls and social distancing policies, in an attempt to bring its caseload as close to zero as possible. We didnt see that major difference with transmissions. Mask mandates stretching for years on end are going to run out of steam in terms of how effective they are, Dr. Sridhar said. The number of destinations on the list is slowly increasing, including plenty in Europe. "In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.". Although Hong Kong seemed like an outlier with its far-reaching mask mandate, there are still a number of countries that require masks onboard public transport and on commercial aircraft. Once a saver, always a saver: Warren Buffett says generational wealth isnt what it used to be in his annual letter Its bigger than the housing crisis: An influential economist just blamed NIMBYs for American decline, and Elon Musk CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In India, for example, the Ministry of Civil Aviation set regulations as of May 2020 that all flight crew were required to be in PPE a full protective body suit, (similar to the kind medical professionals wear) with masks, gloves and face shield. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong Photograph:(Reuters). This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.. Learn more. The airline is, however, aware that many Hong Kongers may feel nervous about being around unmasked passengers or crew members for long periods in these cases, the airline has asked nervous passengers not to fly until they feel comfortable around unmasked seatmates. Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, Southern India. In 2019, the US was home to more than four million Filipinos. However, the situation is still in flux, with mandates often lifted or reinstated on a day-to-day basis as cases surge or wane in a given country or new COVID-19 variants emerge. In recent days, officials announced that visitors to hospitals and nursing homes would no longer have to show PCR test results, and that starting in March, students would not be required to take daily rapid antigen tests before attending school. Accordingly, the CDC now says individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 complications should consider taking precautions, such as avoiding crowds and wearing a high-quality mask. Read more:Hong Kong's population declines for a third consecutive year; Chinese influence to be blamed, China spending billions on spreading disinformation about Ukraine war, says US special envoy, 'Hello Hong Kong' mission kicks off with half a million free air tickets on offer, Zero to 100 in under 5 minutes: Redmi unveils 300W fastest charger. Everyone can show their smiles and say, Hello, Hong Kong, he said, repeating the citys new tourism slogan. April 20, 2022, 10:00 AM UTC. Many analysts view the relaxation of mask mandates as the next logical step. And so for that reason, we're recommending that schools use the same guidance that we are recommending in general community settings, which is that we're recommending people where a mask in high levels of COVID-19" risk, said Dr. Greta Massetti, a senior CDC official. Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, marking an end to one of the world's longest-running Covid restrictions. France With more than 92% of its population of 67+ million people vaccinated, France chose to lift the majority of its COVID-19 restrictions in Hong Kongs mask mandate has been in effect since July 2020. Photo/Matthew Busch/The New York Times / Various masks hang at a home in Austin, Texas, on Dec. 20, 2022. In February, Spain became the last country in Europe to drop its airplane mask mandate, while Japan will only relax mask recommendations from March 13. Learn how your comment data is processed. South African Airways requires that children over 5 and adults must have a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure for all international flights, and must complete a "Traveler Health Questionnaire" on arrival, asking such things as, "Did you change your seat during the trip?". Places where social distancing is not followed. A young woman wears a KN95 mask in downtown Salt Lake City on Jan. 26, 2022. Almost 70 percent of the population in the USA are in areas of low or medium risk. Denmark People in Denmark can be exempted from wearing face masks everywhere, except public transports. He added that while well-fitting masks were highly effective in hospital settings, they were often removed in crowded restaurants and at home, limiting the protection they provided when community transmission was widespread. A child acting as hallway monitor watches as children move about a hallway wearing COVID-19 protective masks at Carter Traditional Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2022. However, as the vaccination rate increased and the country gained confidence in its health care network's ability to combat the virus, restrictions have been gradually eased. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them. Some criticised the rule's duration and its sudden scrapping - amid wider criticism of the city's pandemic policies for the past three years. Singapore has been lauded as highly effective in its management of containing COVID-19 with a very low number of cases from the virus. However, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing on Tuesday, February 8, that Filipinos are still willing to wear face masks despite the ease of restrictions. People have beenrequiredto wear masks in all public places, including outdoors, from July 29, 2020. As the country continued to curb the cases in 2022, Malaysia lifted the indoor mask mandate in most public areas. Hong Kongs leader said on Tuesday that the city would lift its mask mandate, one of the last such policies in the world, effectively ending what had been one of the pandemics strictest Covid regimes. Although there is no legal mask mandate covering the entire country of Japan, there are strong recommendations to wear a mask in public. The Hang Seng Tech index meanwhile, fell 1.42%. The Hang Seng Tech index It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told Reuters. Face masks must still be worn in closed spaces. With the improvement of the COVID-19 situation, Indonesia has scrapped indoor mask mandates and removed all the remaining restrictions when entering buildings in 2022. The mandate, which went into effect in mid-July 2020, imposed a more than $600 fine to those who didn't follow mask rules. A sign on the door of a coffee shop in Manhattan ask for proof of vaccination and the wearing of a mask on the day that a mask mandate went into effect in New York Taiwan announced in February that it has lifted the indoor mask mandate and has eased other restrictions. People deserve choice in terms of how they are protecting themselves, and they have been doing this since the very first days of the pandemic, and they are going to continue to do that., Hong Kong, One of Worlds Last Holdouts, Ends Its Mask Mandate, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/world/asia/hong-kong-mask-mandate.html. Masking up is still a requirement with a number of airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, South African Airways and Malaysian, to name a few. In a press conference Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee said residents and tourists will not be required to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transportation for the first time in nearly three years. Heres where. The guidance also is intended to give local officials a roadmap to re-imposing restrictions if another variant pops up, which health experts warn is a possibility. The Japanese government has said it will ease mask-wearing guidelines on 13 March, recommending masks only on trains and buses during rush hour, or where public transportation is particularly congested. ), Two United Airlines Pilots Sent For Additional Training After Boeing 777 Plunges 1,425 Feet Within Seconds Just After Takeoff, The Super Bowl Has United Airlines Flight Attendants On The Look Out For Human Traffickers Ahead of Mega Event, Emirates Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2021, Emirates Cabin Crew Recruitment The Complete Guide And Step-By-Step Process 2021, The Emirates Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Open Day & Assessment Day 2018, Etihad Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, Etihad Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2021, British Airways Cabin Crew Recruitment Step by Step Process 2022, NEW & UPDATED: British Airways Cabin Crew Salary and Benefits 2020, The British Airways Cheat Sheet for the Cabin Crew Assessment Day, The Qatar Airways Cabin Crew Open Day and Assessment Day: What Really Happens? 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