Passenger planes sit on the tarmac at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on November 4, 2022, just before China ended Covid-related restrictions on travel.
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BEIJING – China announced late Monday that travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in the mainland starting January 8.
The next shift follows Sudden relaxation this month In local covid controls. The changes end the bulk of the most restrictive measures China has imposed for nearly three years under its zero Covid policy.
Since March 2020, travelers to the mainland have had to self-quarantine, usually in a designated hotel and for a period of 14 days. This period of isolation then began to increase to 21 days or longer for some travellers, before China began Cut out quarantine times this summer.
The current policy requires five days of quarantine at a central facility, followed by three days at home.
China’s National Health Commission also said that from January 8, authorities will stop close contact tracing of COVID patients, stop identifying risk areas for the COVID virus, and cancel COVID measures that have slowed the import of goods.
The commission said that travelers to China will only need to show a negative virus test within the past 48 hours, and will no longer have to apply for a clear health code. The announcement stated that during the flight, passengers will still need to wear face masks.
China’s economy has slowed this year amid strict Covid controls that shut down Shanghai for nearly two months, as well as other parts of the country. Beijing abruptly ended several restrictions earlier this month. while, Local Covid infections have risenand strain an already overstretched public health system.
More flights are needed
Indoor quarantine requirements and other Covid-related measures have made it difficult for foreign companies in China to bring in employees, executives and plant technicians.
“Just because the borders are open doesn’t mean travel will immediately return,” Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said last week.
He noted that the number of available flights in and out of China should recover. “I don’t think the US airlines or the international airlines will immediately go back to normal because those planes are already flying other routes,” Hart said. “It might be different with the Chinese airlines, because the planes just sit on the tarmac and do nothing.”
In 2019, China said there were 670 million international flights in and out of the country. In 2021, the number has dropped to 128 million, according to the National Immigration Service.
China said on Monday that it will improve visa arrangements for foreigners to enter the country to resume work, business, study, visit relatives and other gatherings.
According to CNBC’s translation, the ability of Chinese citizens to travel abroad will be “resumed in an orderly manner.”
During the epidemic, Beijing Preventing Chinese citizens from obtaining passports or leaving the country Unless they have a clear goal, usually work related.
Previously, Chinese tourists and their spending abroad—particularly on luxury goods—were an important source of revenue for businesses in many international tourism locations.
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