China has reopened its borders to international visitors after three years of Covid closure. It’s no longer mandatory for incoming travellers to quarantine, representing a significant change in the country’s Covid policy as it struggles with a surge in infections. But they will still need to carry proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travelling.
The lifting of self-imposed isolation has been welcomed by many inbound travellers eager to reunite with family. On Sunday, mainland China also reopened its border with Hong Kong and tens of thousands of people crossed the border. Nearly 400,000 people from the special administrative region of the country are expected to travel to mainland China in the coming weeks.
With the reopening, coming at the start of ‘Chunyun’ – the first period of Lunar New Year travel – the last pillars of a zero-Covid policy that had protected people from the virus but also severed their connections with the rest of the world has been dismantled. The policy’s impact on the world’s second-biggest economy is no news, and neither are the nationwide protests it triggered.
Several countries are expected to experience a surge in Chinese travellers as the country has rolled back its quarantine requirements for inbound travellers. But with China currently reeling under the impact of a spike in infections, some countries have sounded the alarm.
Expecting around 300,000 Chinese visitors in the first quarter of this year, Thailand is bringing back Covid restrictions for foreigners. Dutch and Portuguese governments have also mandated Covid-negative for Chinese travellers upon arrival. And Germany, despite lagging behind other EU nations in post-pandemic recovery in the air travel sector, has discouraged non-essential trips to China.
Foreign health experts have often warned that China’s narrow criteria for identifying Covid deaths will underestimate the true toll of the current wave there. The country has routinely been accused of downplaying infections and deaths for political purposes.
In a recent interview with LBCI news channel of Lebanon former MP Fares Souaid warned about growing military tensions in… Read More
According to the UAE’s state news agency this week two shipments of aid from the UAE entered Gaza through the… Read More
Current world no. 1, Jannik Sinner is also planning to play in the ATP Finals in Turin between the 10th… Read More
USA Today reported that Prince William said that this past year was ‘probably the hardest’ of his life due to… Read More
In a collaborative humanitarian mission with the World Health Organization the Gulf nation UAE evacuated 86 critically injured patients from… Read More
Southern California Edison the main electric provider in the region intentionally cut power to nearly 70,000 customers overnight as a… Read More
This website uses cookies.
Read More