Hong Kong drops COVID-19 mask mandate after nearly 1,000 days
abc.net.au/news/2023-02-28/hong-kong-drops-ma...
abc.net.auPosted Feb 28, 2023, 9:58 AM UTC
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abc.net.auUnfortunately CCP will be very happy with this. Hard for them to monitor dissidents and protestors if everyone is wearing masks.
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Wasn't there a ban on mask wearing in HK introduced during 2019, which was replaced overnight with a mandate in 2020? It would be interesting if that ever came back
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One of the last remaining bastions of the mask mandate is ending, much to the relief of many residents.
I recall visiting Hong Kong well before Covid and being surprised by the number of people wearing masks on public transport. It was explained to me that it was due to the impacts of SARS and socially it was expected that if you weren't feeling 100% you need to take personal responsibility and wear a mask.
It will be interesting post mandate if this behaviour has changed and what if any impacts it would have on seasonal flu numbers
Fair enough, masking up if you know you're sick is not unreasonable, but do note these were only a small proportion of people taking the MTR though. Never anything like the ubiquitous wearing of the past couple of years.
I'd expect HK to be just like Singapore - where despite people claiming they'd mask up forever, they came off almost universally as soon as the mandates ended.
I'd also expect China to follow in "unmasking", not too long after HK does.