Hong Kong has Covid-19 under control. It’s time to drop the mask mandate

A respite from wearing masks in the hot, humid summer makes sense, although we should still wear them on crowded public transport

Such a move does not mean living with Covid-19 or being nonchalant about a dangerous disease. It is more a statement of confidence

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A masked man walks past an Adidas store in Hong Kong on April 14. Photo: Reuters

Peter Kammerer

Australian-born Peter Kammerer has lived and worked in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, joining the Post in 1988.

Published: 9:45am, 17 May 2022Updated: 10:19am, 17 May 2022

The “normal” life Hong Kong authorities have promised as the number of Covid-19 cases eases is happening as promised. Swimming pools and beaches have reopened and, on Thursday, restaurant hours are due to be extended to midnight while bars, nightclubs and karaoke venues can resume operations with a 2am closing time.

I’ve missed swimming and being able to listen to live music. But these are just incremental steps; scrapping face masks in public and ending quarantine for overseas travellers are the real indicators of being back in business and ready to face the world.

Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in March announced a three-phase process of reopening, with the first two stages relatively well defined. That has gone to plan, with the unexpected addition of dropping mask-wearing in country parks and when exercising outdoors.