Hong Kong has lifted its mask mandate, ending one of the world’s longest-running Covid restrictions.
The city’s leader John Lee said that the virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound.
Under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (£530; $640).
“With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy,” Mr Lee said on Tuesday.
“This year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed.”
Hong Kong has largely followed mainland China’s lead in tackling the virus, including attempts to eliminate it with a “zero-Covid” strategy.
Other Covid curbs in Hong Kong included strict quarantine rules, limitations on the number of people gathering in public places, and restricting visitors in nursing homes.
Most of these curbs were rolled back at the end of last year.
Some residents and business owners have said these tough rules damaged Hong Kong’s economy and international standing. The city’s gross domestic product fell by 3.5% last year.
In a recent bid to woo foreign visitors, Hong Kong announced plans to give away half a million air tickets – starting on Wednesday.
Masks are still worn in some parts of Asia. In South Korea, for instance, they are still required on public transportation and in hospitals and pharmacies.
The Japanese government has said it will ease mask-wearing guidelines on 13 March, recommending masks only on trains and buses during rush hour, or where public transportation is particularly congested. Masks have never been mandatory in Japan, but most people have been wearing them