HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced Thursday that the quarantine requirements for persons arriving from Britain will be tightened from June 28.

The decision was made in view of the recent rebound of the epidemic situation in Britain and the widespread of Delta variant virus strain there, coupled with a number of cases with L452R mutant virus strains detected by tests from people arriving from Britain upon arrival or during quarantine in Hong Kong, according to a press release by the HKSAR government.

The HKSAR government will also classify Britain, which is currently a "high-risk" place, as "very high-risk" with effect from June 28. Persons from Britain boarding for Hong Kong have to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft, as well as the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong.

On confirmation of negative test results at the Hong Kong International Airport, they will then be required to board the designated transport to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for a 21-day compulsory quarantine, during which four tests will be conducted, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival, the HKSAR government said.