Hong Kong to lift COVID-19 mask mandate on Wednesday

By KANIS LEUNG
Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city’s last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s leader, John Lee, says masks will no longer be required both outdoors and indoors, including on public transit. But some high-risk areas such as hospitals and nursing homes can still require their use. Lee’s announcement comes a day after neighboring Macao eased its mask rule and will bring the financial hub closer to life in pre-pandemic days. For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong have been required to wear masks in indoor and outdoor public areas and violators could be fined more than $600.