HONG KONG – The daily nucleic acid test requirement for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers will be lifted if they have completed two vaccine doses for 14 days, the Hong Kong government said on Friday.
In a release, the city’s Transport Department said it had been informed by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province that from April 23, such drivers who have received two vaccine doses for 14 days and received a message in the Yuekang Code system issued by Guangdong province are not required to undergo a nucleic acid test once every day.
As of April 15, about 6,700 cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers have received their first vaccine dose and about 5,700 have received their second dose, representing over 90 percent and 80 percent of active drivers
They only need to possess proof of a negative nucleic acid test result conducted within 72 hours when entering Shenzhen and Zhuhai, the department said.
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Those who have not been vaccinated, have not received two vaccine doses or have received two vaccine doses for less than 14 days are still required to possess proof of a negative nucleic acid test result conducted within 72 hours when entering Shenzhen and Zhuhai and undergo a nucleic acid test during their first entry daily.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's government has also gained consent from the Guangdong provincial government to allow cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course to continue to be exempted from quarantine.
Currently, there are about 11,000 cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, of which about 7,000 are active.
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As of April 15, about 6,700 such drivers have received their first vaccine dose and about 5,700 have received their second dose, representing over 90 percent and 80 percent of active drivers.
The department encouraged cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers to get vaccinated early.