Nicole Kidman granted Hong Kong quarantine exemption for TV series

Actor Nicole Kidman was granted an exemption from Hong Kong’s strict quarantine rules to film a TV series.

“The case in discussion has been granted permission to travel to Hong Kong with a quarantine exemption for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kong’s economy,” government officials wrote in a statement, The Associated Press reported.

Although the statement did not name Kidman, it came after reports of Kidman skipping quarantine surfaced, which provoked some anger over the decision. 

Residents of the city were vocal online about their displeasure for Kidman’s exemption, according to Reuters.

Kidman traveled from Australia, which has been hit by a surge in coronavirus cases, to Hong Kong to film an Amazon Prime Video series called “Expats.”

Hong Kong, which has some of the strictest travel restrictions in the world, makes individuals from high-risk countries quarantine for 21 days in a hotel regardless of vaccination status, inhibiting many from visiting family and friends.

Australia is labeled a medium-risk country, so Kidman would have had to quarantine for two weeks whether she is fully vaccinated or not, Reuters noted.