Be Aware Of These Hidden COVID-Related Costs

With the vacation season on the horizon, Hong Kong has loosened its journey restrictions. The brand new preparations mark the opening of the tourism doorways of Hong Kong. Together with lifting the ‘0+3’ medical surveillance requirement, town has additionally eradicated its ‘amber code’ rule. The amber code beforehand banned worldwide vacationers from coming into eating places and bars for 3 days after their arrival. 

However not less than some facet of the pandemic-era journey panorama has turn out to be the brand new regular: testing necessities and journey insurance coverage. You need to have set your journey funds, bought your flight tickets and made your resort bookings in Hong Kong. However what concerning the COVID-related prices? Did you contemplate that journey insurance coverage? That’ll be some further {dollars}. Thanks! COVID testing alone will add as much as $500 to your funds. 

Are you planning to go to Hong Kong? Be sure you contemplate these COVID-related journey bills.

Hong Kong journey: COVID-related prices for incoming passengers

1. PCR check on the third day of arrival

In keeping with the up to date tips, you will need to bear PCR exams on Day 1 and Day 3 of your arrival. When you should not have to pay for the check on the airport after arrival, you’ll have to incur the prices on the third day. Hong Kong has a number of cellular specimen assortment stations and personal hospitals that provide PCR exams. The price of a PCR check is HKD150 at testing centres. The charges at personal hospitals like Canossa Hospital, Gleneagles, and Hong Kong Baptist Hospital vary from HKD1,320 to HKD2,000. 

2. Medical charge should you check optimistic

Travelling remains to be a slippery slope. And whereas we slowly slide again to regular, the possibilities of getting contaminated whereas travelling stay. In Hong Kong, you will need to take licensed exams on days one and three. In case you check optimistic at any level, you’ll then be subjected to rapid quarantine, incurring all of the medical prices. Later, should you expertise signs throughout your Hong Kong go to, you will need to shell out something between HKD300 to HKD 800 to seek the advice of a physician. 

3. Journey insurance coverage with COVID-19 advantages

This useful security internet has saved the day—to not point out loads of cash—numerous instances for travellers in the previous few years. And whereas most journey insurance coverage insurance policies robotically embody Covid-19 advantages, they don’t cowl border closures and authorities advisories. As well as, many premium journey rewards playing cards with substantial journey insurance coverage advantages have some limitations. Due to this fact, make sure to learn up in your particular makes use of. The price of a journey medical health insurance coverage varies simply as a lot as another type of personal insurance coverage. 

4. COVID penalty should you break the foundations

Hong Kong has enforced strict fines and punishment who fail to adjust to the Covid-19 guidelines. Any incoming traveller may be liable to a most penalty of HKD10,000 and imprisonment for six months. So, should you’re stepping exterior, bear in mind to put on a masks, preserve social distancing and regularly wash your arms. 

5. Return-travel testing 

Most nations require testing earlier than departure. In case you want a destructive coronavirus check earlier than returning dwelling, you’ll have to shell out a couple of extra Hong Kong {dollars} to get a check performed. That may price you as much as HKD200 in personal hospitals. As well as, these prices can rapidly escalate should you check optimistic. 

With social distancing, face masks, and testing necessities, journey is fully totally different now. 

(Hero picture: Courtesy of Ruslan Bardash/Unsplash; Characteristic picture: courtesy Want Pix)

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong