China: Authorities ease COVID-19 testing requirements in several cities Dec. 5 /update 54

Event

The Chinese central government are easing domestic COVID-19 restrictions as of Dec. 5, though it continues to pursue its zero-COVID-19 strategy nationwide. Several cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Nanning, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou have lifted requirements for residents to present a negative COVID-19 test to take public transport or enter certain public venues. Close contacts of people with COVID-19, as well as people with mild COVID-19 symptoms, may self-isolate at home in certain cities.

Provincial and municipal governments are encouraged to reduce widespread testing without cause. Local officials can no longer require quarantine for inbound visitors who previously completed quarantine in the city of entry. The central government has also threatened local governments that restrict transport, movement, and commercial activity beyond the national guidelines.

Despite the reduced controls, measures will continue to vary by province or city depending on COVID-19 activity. Local governments could continue to conduct mass testing drives for residents as a precaution and require individuals to present a negative COVID-19 test result to take public transport and enter airports, train stations, and subway stations. Transport operators in almost all major cities require passengers to share health code information – indicating testing and COVID-19 status - before boarding mass transit. Officials mandate facemasks on public transport.

The central government classifies districts and neighborhoods as high or low risk depending on COVID-19 activity. Officials typically issue stay-home notices for residents in high-risk locations, sometimes for prolonged periods. Entry and exit to affected neighborhoods are restricted or require testing. Authorities often close all non-essential businesses, cultural venues, and tourist sites; restrict restaurant and other business operations; and halt public transport in affected areas, depending on the outbreak's severity. Security personnel will continue to erect roadblocks and checkpoints on routes into designated high-risk communities; localized transport and business disruptions are almost certain in affected areas.

Citywide lockdowns remain possible and can take place with little warning. Authorities usually prevent residents from leaving home unless they are exempt or undergoing testing. Reports indicate delivery services and food shortages have previously occurred in some cities under lockdown orders. Lockdown measures have prompted factory closures and business disruptions. Nevertheless, local officials will probably allow companies to operate under a closed-loop system where employees live, work, and undergo routine testing on-site.

Officials have reduced the centralized quarantine period for COVID-19 close contacts from seven to five days; a mandatory three-day self-quarantine remains in place. Regular nucleic acid testing will continue during both periods. Officials no longer track secondary contacts (contacts of designated close contacts) or require them to undergo centralized quarantine.

Protests denouncing the restrictions have occurred in several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, since Nov. 25 following a residential fire in Urumqi that resulted in fatalities allegedly due to delayed evacuation measures caused by COVID-19 curbs. While most gatherings have passed off peacefully, clashes between security personnel and protesters have resulted in sporadic violence and damage to COVID-19 testing sites. Most recently, protesters reportedly threw objects and clashed with security personnel during related demonstrations in Haizhu District Nov. 29, prompting police to arrest some participants. Authorities will almost certainly deploy a heavy police presence if protests occur and will move quickly to arrest and disperse participants. Further civil unrest against the measures remains possible and could turn disruptive, especially in areas under lockdown for prolonged periods.

Transport
Provincial authorities can require air, train, and interprovincial bus and ferry passengers to obtain a negative PCR test result within 48 hours before departure. Individuals staying at a hotel or guest house or visiting tourist sites must hold a negative PCR test result obtained in the previous 72 hours. The National Health Commission has also recommended that interprovincial travelers undergo a PCR test upon arrival at their destination and limit cross-city travel, though those policies are not mandated. Interprovincial travelers may have to download more than one mobile app to generate health codes for their destination; glitches and interoperability issues have triggered quarantine and transport disruptions for some travelers.

Local officials can ban interprovincial travelers who have visited locations with COVID-19 cases (high-risk areas) in the last seven days and may require arrivals or departing travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, typically taken within 24-48 hours. Officials can also quarantine people in their jurisdiction who previously visited places designated high risk after their arrival. Reports indicate that retroactive designations have stranded hundreds of people during travel. Depending on the severity of COVID-19 activity, authorities could halt public transport, including air travel from departing cities where outbreaks occur.

Despite central government directives to ensure the movement of freight and logistics, local authorities may continue to close expressways or impose exit and entry controls during COVID-19 outbreaks. Supply chain delays and increased processing times could occur at ports in locations with strict COVID-19 measures.

Advice

Consider postponing nonessential travel in mainland China. Confirm travel reservations, as disruptions can occur without notice. Follow all official instructions and closely monitor official announcements on any other precautionary restrictions. Allow additional travel time due to screenings at airports, train stations, and other transport hubs. Make allowances for possible business disruptions.

Resources

National Health Commission