Partially vaccinated people must provide negative COVID test to enter buildings

Persons who are partially vaccinated – that is only vaccinated with one dose of a two-dose vaccine- are now required to make an appointment and present a recent negative PCR COVID-19 test to enter public buildings.

This is according to the newly updated COVID-19 emergency measures published in the Official Gazette which will take effect from November 1 and will last until November 30 unless earlier amended or repealed by the Minister of Health.

Paragraph 17 of the guidelines explicitly state: “… any person who wishes to enter a public building shall be fully vaccinated.”

It was explained that public buildings refer to any building that the public has lawful access to, including both publicly and privately owned buildings and all institutions of learning.

Importantly, however, these guidelines do not apply to any individual seeking to access healthcare at any healthcare facility.

According to these measures, a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving an approved single-dose vaccine, the second dose of an approved two-dose vaccine or any mix and match combination of approved vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Meanwhile, the updated guidelines also state that staff at gyms, restaurants and bars, in addition to transportation operators such as drivers and conductors, must be fully vaccinated before they can provide services to the general public.

If persons do not comply with the measures, they will be committing an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and will be liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.

Earlier in the week, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony revealed that the government was considering implementing the fully vaccinated mandate here.