The Hong Kong government has announced it will suspend flights from the UK starting on Tuesday, after British authorities reported a new coronavirus variant that has spread rapidly across the country.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan said Hong Kong has not imposed such stringent measures before, but the measure was necessary to prevent the spread of the mutant coronavirus in the city.

Coronavirus Covid-19 virus airport
Aircrew at the Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: GovHK.

From midnight, travellers from the UK will also be required to stay at home for another seven days after their mandatory two-week quarantine. People who do not comply with the requirement could face a fine of HK$5,000.

Meanwhile, Chan said the government had no room to relax the current social distancing measures, saying the existing policies – including a ban on dine-in services at restaurants after 6 pm and the closure of bars – will remain in place until January 6.

As of Sunday, Hong Kong has registered 8,152 Covid-19 infections and 130 related deaths.

More to follow – refresh for latest.

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Ho Long Sze Kelly is a Hong Kong-based journalist covering politics, criminal justice, human rights, social welfare and education. As a Senior Reporter at Hong Kong Free Press, she has covered the aftermath of the 2019 extradition bill protests and the Covid-19 pandemic extensively, as well as documented the transformation of her home city under the Beijing-imposed national security law.

Kelly has a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong, with a second major in Politics and Public Administration. Prior to joining HKFP in 2020, she was on the frontlines covering the 2019 citywide unrest for South China Morning Post’s Young Post. She also covered sports and youth-related issues.