China: International COVID-19-related travel restrictions, localized domestic controls continue as of Feb. 18 /update 33

Event

Authorities in mainland China are maintaining international travel controls while continuing localized domestic transport, business, and gathering restrictions in areas with confirmed COVID-19 activity. Some generalized measures aimed at discouraging nonessential domestic travel are also continuing as of Feb. 18. Passengers are allowed free refunds for previously booked domestic airline flights scheduled through March 8. Some provincial and municipal governments are requiring mandatory COVID-19 tests for inbound travelers. Individuals with recent travel history in any designated medium- and high-risk locations within mainland China are barred from entering Beijing through March 15. Additional domestic and international travel controls could be imposed in other locations at short notice in the coming days.

Strict movement and gathering restrictions have been implemented following confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. However, in recent weeks, the number of communities with localized controls has decreased significantly. As of Feb. 18, such measures are still in effect in parts of Harbin, Shijiazhuang, and Shanghai, along with some smaller cities and towns in Jilin and Heilongjiang. Long-distance travel controls and mandatory testing requirements remain in force in affected communities. Similar measures will be imposed in any additional areas that experience COVID-19 activity.

The government continues to rate locations across the country based on the level of COVID-19 activity. The following risk designations are in place:

• Low risk: Locations with no new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no confirmed cases within 14 consecutive days

• Medium risk: Areas where COVID-19 activity does not exceed 50 cases within 14 days, or more than 50 cases have occurred but not within 14 days; no clusters reported within two weeks

• High risk: Places where new confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 50, and a cluster has been reported within 14 days

Officials could increase the risk rating for any location experiencing a new outbreak with little-to-no advance notice. Individuals residing in or with recent travel history in high- and medium-risk areas face travel, movement, and gathering restrictions. Most provincial and municipal governments require passengers from such zones to undergo quarantine and testing. Local governments are highly likely to continue imposing movement and business restrictions in medium- and high-risk areas; those exiting such areas must generally have negative COVID-19 test results before traveling. Officials have lifted most nationwide commercial and transport restrictions in low-risk communities.

Transport
Health checks are being performed at airports, train stations, and subway stations, increasing travel times. Public transport operators in most major cities require passengers to share health code information prior to boarding mass transit. Officials will continue to erect roadblocks and checkpoints on routes into any high- and medium-risk areas of cities and counties in response to future outbreaks. Areas with COVID-19 activity have limited long-distance transport services and imposed testing requirements on individuals who seek to travel. Further travel disruptions are likely in any high- and medium-risk locations.

Travel Restrictions
Entry into China is banned for foreign nationals traveling from specific countries, including Canada, Belgium, France, Russia, the Philippines, India, Italy, Bangladesh, the UK, Ukraine, and Ethiopia. The restrictions do not apply to Chinese nationals, foreign diplomatic passport holders, and individuals with C visas. Foreign nationals from other countries with valid residence permits for work, visiting family, and personal matters currently can re-enter China. Specially designated foreign workers with invitation letters issued by provincial or municipal government officials can also enter the country. Some immediate family members of foreign employees may obtain visas to enter for emergency humanitarian purposes. Diplomatic personnel and C visa holders - generally flight and shipping crew members - are exempt from entry bans. Officials have also banned flights to and from the UK until further notice.

Additionally, officials are permitting essential business travel from Singapore and South Korea under fast-track arrangements. Travel is possible between Singapore and Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, as well as Chongqing, Shanghai, and Tianjin municipalities. A fast-track arrangement for business travelers from South Korea to 10 Chinese locations, including Shanghai and Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces, is also in place. Companies or government agencies can apply for special passes for inbound visitors, who must test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their departure from Singapore or within 72 hours of their departure from South Korea and obtain a visa. Passengers will undergo COVID-19 testing again upon arrival in China and self-isolate at designated facilities (usually hotels) until their results are available. Singapore travelers must also adhere to a preplanned itinerary, refrain from using public transport - except for private hire vehicles - for the first 14 days and download and use a health pass while in the country. Arriving passengers testing positive for COVID-19 will undergo treatment at their own expense.

Authorities require most arriving passengers from abroad to take a nucleic acid COVID-19 test at designated facilities in the country of origin within three days of departure for China. Officials require all authorized inbound passengers from specified countries to provide evidence of both nucleic acid COVID-19 and IgM antibody tests from designated facilities in the departure country within 48 hours of boarding flights and undergo additional COVID-19 tests in each country they transit. As of Feb. 18, the measure applies to travelers from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the US, and Vietnam. Authorities will likely further expand the testing requirements to other countries in the coming days and weeks, possibly at short notice. Most travelers, regardless of nationality or residency, are barred from using land border crossings. Exceptions are in place for cargo transport, though backlogs remain possible at border checkpoints.

All authorized passengers must apply for a health certificate via the local Chinese diplomatic mission before travel. Chinese citizens must update their information through WeChat to obtain a health code before boarding flights. The government continues to conduct health screenings, including body temperature scans and nucleic acid testing, at ports of entry nationwide. Most international travelers must quarantine for 14 days, and officials generally allow nonresident passengers to stay in government-designated hotels at their own cost. However, some governments require inbound travelers to self-quarantine and undergo medical observation for three or four weeks. All arrivals must receive a negative COVID-19 test result in quarantine before release from designated facilities.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) manages international airline flight volume based on COVID-19 testing outcomes for passengers. If a foreign carrier achieves three weeks with no passengers testing positive, officials will permit one more flight on pre-existing routes. If five passengers of an airline test positive, the CAAC will suspend the carrier's operations for one week; if 10 of the airline's passengers test positive, the suspension will last four weeks. China and US regulators continue to limit available flights from each other's countries to eight per week. Authorities also restrict Chinese airlines' international operations and limit capacity on aircraft. Some airlines continue to suspend services to and from mainland China due to significantly decreased demand.

Advice

Consider postponing nonessential travel to mainland China. Confirm all scheduled international flights. Consult airlines and Chinese diplomatic facilities for details on restrictions prior to any travel. Follow all official instructions and closely monitor official announcements on any other precautionary restrictions. Confirm all travel and business reservations. Allow additional travel time due to screenings at airports, train stations, and other transport hubs. Make allowances for possible business disruptions.

Resources

Beijing Capital International Airport
Shanghai Airport Authority
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
World Health Organization