Stay at your hotel and call your doctor if you feel unwell: Isolate yourself at home if you feel unwell to avoid contact with others; when you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Without them, it has felt roomier but poorer. Despite the risk of new infections, the reopening that will allow tens of thousands of people who have made prior online bookings to cross each day is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Hong Kong's tourism and retail sectors. After years of separation from his wife in mainland China, Hong Kong resident Cheung Seng-bun made sure to be among the first in line following the reopening Sunday of border crossing points. And also don't expect a sudden rush of people going into China right now because ironically, it's one of the most likely places you'll get COVID right now. Germany, like other European nations, will test wastewater from aircrafts for possible new virus variants. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The Chinese government announced on Thursday that it will reopen its border with Hong Kong on January 8, nearly three years after it was largely shut in an N.B. Got a confidential news tip? It's one of the biggest, most important countries in the world. It can be filled in customs. Many Chinese are also expected to start travelling abroad, a long-awaited shift for tourist spots in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. The economy could contract in the first three months of opening up, says Tommy Wu of Commerzbank. MARTNEZ: That makes a lot of sense. In order to open its borders, China will first have to vaccinate its population. Yet Mr Xi will struggle to shake the damage done to his reputation in 2022. Now China says it's opening up, however, and it just doesn't make sense to quarantine people when you're seeing millions of new cases daily in China already. Peter Vercoe. Did you encounter any technical issues? All Rights Reserved. The cap does not apply to Hong Kong residents traveling back to Hong Kong from the mainland, nor mainland Chinese traveling back to the mainland from Hong Kong, Lee said. Your browser does not support the