Many in Hong Kong remain masked on city’s first day after end of Covid face-covering mandate

After almost three years under Covid mask rules, Hong Kong lifted its face-covering requirement on March 1, 2023. Residents and visitors no longer need to wear masks indoors, outdoors or on public transport. But despite the eased policy, only a few people were seen without masks on the first day. The rules also still apply for certain high-risk venues, such as hospitals and care homes for the elderly. Hong Kong was among the world’s last places to enforce a citywide mask mandate. The mandate to wear masks indoors, outdoors and on public transport was in place for 945 days.