Flight crew members wear face masks after arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport, March 23, 2020.(KIN CHEUNG / AP)

Hong Kong will scrap its quarantine rules for locally based airline crew working on passenger flights from Saturday, the government announced on Friday.

Under the new arrangements, locally based aircrews can leave the airport after obtaining a negative result of the nucleic acid test upon their arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, according to a government statement issued on Friday evening.

They will be subject to regular testing after their return to the local community, to keep their health conditions under continued monitoring, the government said, adding that the arrangements are consistent with the prevailing arrangements applicable to locally based cargo crew.

READ MORE: COVID-19: HK eases quarantine rules for aircrews

Previously, aircrews had to quarantine at a hotel for three nights before returning home.

The number and proportion of positive (COVID-19) cases involving arrival air crew were minimal, and were far lower than that the relevant numbers of general inbound travelers.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

While in Hong Kong, they will also “continue to be subject to medical surveillance, including the requirements to avoid mask-off activities in public places, refrain from going to crowded places and mass gatherings, and keep a log of their activities until the third day following their arrival”. 

During their layover at outports in overseas places or Taiwan, the locally based air crew will have to continue complying with a closed-loop arrangement to avoid contact with the community in those places. 

“The government has requested airlines to put in place robust mechanisms to ensure their air crew's compliance with the medical surveillance requirements. Airlines will be held responsible to monitor and conduct checking on the activity logs of their air crew,” reads the statement.

Adjustments to COVID rules have been made under a science-based and targeted approach, the government emphasized.

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“The number and proportion of positive (COVID-19) cases involving arrival air crew were minimal, and were far lower than the relevant numbers of general inbound travelers,” it said, adding that relaxing the air crew quarantine arrangements should not bring significant additional risks to the local community.

The new rule "will effectively facilitate airlines to enhance flight services between Hong Kong and other parts of the world, and enable Hong Kong to play its role as an international aviation hub for bringing convenience to travelers and businesses, and facilitating recovery of normal economic and social activities", the government said.

On Friday, the city reported 10,076 new COVID-19 infections – 9,922 local and 154 imported cases – and 11 more deaths with the health authorities urging residents to reduce cross-family gatherings during the long Mid-Autumn Festival weekend.

Health officials check the body temperatures of incoming passengers at the Hong Kong International Airport, Jan 23, 2020. (AHMAD IBRAHIM / AP)

Temperature screening of outbound travelers

Outbound and transit passengers leaving Hong Kong via the HKIA will no longer be required to go through temperature screening from Saturday, the government said in a separate statement on Friday.

“As for inbound passengers entering Hong Kong, as well as departing passengers bound for the Mainland or Macao, the temperature screening arrangements remain in place.”

Passengers who feel sick during transit in Hong Kong can contact the Department of Health. After conducting a health assessment, the DH staff will determine whether referral to the hospital for further management is necessary, it added.