In this file photo dated Sept 8, 2019, actress Nicole Kidman attends "The Goldfinch" premiere at the Roy Thompson Hall during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario. (VALERIE MACON / AFP)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government confirmed on Thursday that Hollywood star Nicole Kidman was exempted from quarantine rules after she met the conditions for such an exemption.
In a statement, the government said it was also monitoring the compliance of "film personnel" with the virus curbs they have to follow while filming in the city and have so far found no violations.
In a statement, the government said it was also monitoring the compliance of "film personnel" with the virus curbs they have to follow while filming in the city and have so far found no violations
Local media earlier reported that Kidman arrived from Sydney on Aug 12 to shoot the “Expats” television series and was spotted with her bodyguards at different locations across the city.
“The case in discussion has been granted permission to travel to Hong Kong with a quarantine exemption for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kong's economy,” a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau was quoted as saying in the statement.
He said the film personnel virus prevention measures that include vaccinations prior to arrival; a designated place of stay; testing and securing negative COVID-19 results on arrival and at intervals (no less than three tests during the first 14 days); pre-determined work-related itineraries for filming, costume fitting, rehearsals and business meetings; point-to-point transportation; and prohibition of using public transport.
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“The CEDB has carried out and will conduct checks, verification and monitoring to ensure compliance. No breach of the exemption conditions by the personnel concerned has been identified so far,” he added.
Kidman arrived in Hong Kong before the government decided to tighten entry rules for international arrivals.
Australia’s risk category for COVID-19 had also been upgraded from “low-risk” to “medium-risk” as it battles an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant.
Starting from Friday, fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents from medium-risk countries will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival, instead of seven days, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period.
Unvaccinated non-residents are not allowed to come back from medium risk-countries, while residents need to undergo 21 days of hotel quarantine with six tests.
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