(Global Travel News, January 3, 2023) The United States will implement new coronavirus entry restrictions on Chinese tourists starting from January 5, 2023. The website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the latest statement on December 28, 2022, local time. Passengers two years old and above flying to the United States from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau need to take a new coronavirus test no more than two days before the flight, and present a "negative test certificate" to the airline before boarding. The COVID-19 test can be a PCR test, the so-called " nucleic acid test "; or it can be an antigen self-test through telemedicine services. At the same time, information on the CDC website shows that passengers who test positive for more than 10 days before flight departure can provide recovery documents in lieu of negative test results. The above-mentioned new rules will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on January 5.
Canada stated that starting from January 5, 2023, all inbound passengers aged 2 and above from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau must provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate within 48 hours before boarding. Both rapid antigen test (RAT) and nucleic acid test (PCR) results are acceptable.
British said that Chinese tourists entering the UK next week will not need to undergo mandatory screening. Chinese travelers will not have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 screening when they fly into London's Heathrow Airport next week. Arriving passengers can voluntarily choose to undergo screening, and those who test positive do not need to quarantine, or may be ordered to self-isolate. Previously, the British government announced on December 30 that starting from January 5, 2023, passengers entering the UK from China would be required to obtain a negative nucleic acid test certificate before departure. Starting from January 8, the British Health and Safety Administration will also conduct sampling tests on Chinese passengers arriving in the UK.
France said that starting from the 1st local time, France requires passengers arriving from China to submit a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 48 hours before departure, implement random antigen screening upon landing, and require all passengers on the flight to wear masks.
Australia stated that starting from January 5, 2023, passengers entering Australia from China must provide a negative COVID-19 certificate within 48 hours. The Australian Ministry of Health issued a statement on January 1 that starting from January 5, all inbound passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau must provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate within 48 hours before boarding. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said the arrangements were precautionary and temporary and would continue to be reviewed based on health advice and available information.
Italy stated that starting from December 24, Milan Malpensa Airport will conduct entry nucleic acid tests for all passengers from China (regardless of nationality). This policy will be temporarily implemented until January 30, 2023. After expiration, it will be re-evaluated whether to continue to implement it.
Sweden stated that it will hold a meeting of the European Council 's crisis management mechanism "Integrated Political Crisis Response" (IPCR) on January 4. "In terms of introducing possible entry restrictions, Sweden is seeking a policy that applies to the entire EU." The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that it does not recommend taking measures against travelers arriving from China. The mutant strains circulating in China have already been circulating in the EU, and the vaccination level of EU citizens is relatively high. "Compared with the number of daily infections in the EU, the scale of potential imported infections is small." The medical system is currently responding.
Morocco stated that starting from January 3, 2023, all persons from China, regardless of nationality, will not be allowed to enter the country "to avoid a new wave of new coronavirus infections."
Qatar announced that starting from 6 pm local time on January 3, passengers from China will need to provide a nucleic acid negative report within 48 hours when checking in, regardless of vaccination or immunity status. Qatar pointed out that this policy is a temporary measure designed to protect passengers traveling to Qatar and the local community. In addition, Qatar said that all travelers from abroad are no longer required to quarantine, but travelers who test positive for COVID-19 after entering Qatar must self-isolate in accordance with Qatar's procedures.
Japan stated that entry epidemic prevention measures will be strengthened starting from December 30, 2022.All persons traveling to Japan from mainland China and those who have been to China within 7 days will be tested for COVID-19 upon entry. In principle, those who test positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined for seven days, and the number of flights between China and Japan will be restricted. In addition, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on the 29th that direct flights from Hong Kong to three airports in Hokkaido, New Chitose, Fukuoka, and Naha will be released, on the condition that passengers who have been to mainland China within 7 days before boarding are not included. Flights starting from the 30th were originally required to be grounded, but the approach was adjusted after consultation with the airlines. However, the actual operation of flights depends on the judgment of the airlines, and some flights have decided to cancel.
South Korea's Disease Control and Prevention Agency has included China in the list of "key countries for quarantine inspection" on December 16. This measure is not an entry restriction measure, but an increase in entry screening for those who are at high risk of infection and require centralized management during the quarantine stage of Incheon International Airport. Arrivals whose body temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius are usually classified as symptomatic, while the standard for key quarantine subjects is 37.3 degrees Celsius. If a person arriving from a key country has a body temperature exceeding 37.3 degrees Celsius, he and his companions will need to undergo a nucleic acid test together.
India stated that travelers from China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand are required to submit nucleic acid reports when entering the country. Passengers are required to submit a nucleic acid report on the Indian government website and have their temperature checked upon arrival. Travelers from these countries will be quarantined if they develop symptoms or test positive.
European health officials oppose restrictions on travel from China. European health officials say screening and restrictions on travelers from China are unreasonable, in stark contrast to a growing number of countries calling for tougher measures. Europeans' levels of protection against Covid-19 are high and the continent's health systems can cope with the current volume of infections, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said. It comments after countries including the United States, Italy and Japan decided to make Covid tests available for all travelers arriving from China. The strain circulating in China has already emerged in Europe, and the likelihood of imported infection is low compared to the levels of Covid transmission already occurring in the EU.
The National Immigration Administration will optimize immigration management policies and measures starting from January 8, 2023. The National Immigration Administration will optimize immigration management policies and measures starting from January 8, 2023. This includes the orderly resumption of accepting and approving applications for ordinary passports by Chinese citizens for traveling abroad and visiting friends, resuming the processing of visas for mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong for travel and business, resuming the issuance of entry and exit passes for the People's Republic of China, and resuming the issuance of entry and exit passes for border areas.
China will cancel the centralized quarantine of people coming to China from January 8, 2023. On December 26, the Comprehensive Team of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council issued the "Overall Plan for Implementing "Category B and B Control" for New Coronavirus Infections.. When it comes to optimizing the management of personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries, the plan proposes that people coming to China should undergo a nucleic acid test 48 hours before departure. Those with negative results can come to China without applying for a health code from Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. The results will be filled in the customs health declaration card. If tested positive, relevant personnel should wait until they turn negative before coming to China. Starting from January 8, 2023, "Category B B-management" will be implemented for new coronavirus infections, and nucleic acid testing and centralized isolation of all personnel coming to China will be cancelled. Based on the international epidemic situation and various service guarantee capabilities, outbound travel by Chinese citizens will be resumed in an orderly manner. The above plan proposes to cancel the nucleic acid testing and centralized isolation of all personnel after entry. Those whose health declaration is normal and there are no abnormalities in routine quarantine at customs ports can be released into the public. The "Five Ones" and passenger load factor restrictions and other international passenger flight quantity control measures will be cancelled. All airlines continue to take epidemic prevention measures on board, and passengers are required to wear masks when boarding.
Hong Kong cancels all compulsory nucleic acid tests for entry. The Hong Kong SAR announced further optimization of Hong Kong’s epidemic prevention measures. Cancel the quarantine order and no longer screen the close contacts of confirmed cases; cancel the "vaccine passport" measure; cancel all compulsory nucleic acid tests for entry; cancel all social distance measures, including the "gathering restriction order", etc.
Hong Kong strives to implement the first phase of customs clearance with the mainland as early as January 8. The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Chan Kwok-kee, posted on his social networking site today that the "Customs Clearance Coordination Group" is working against time to formulate a solid plan to achieve gradual, orderly and comprehensive "customs clearance." The SAR government is also in close contact with relevant units of the central government and the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments, striving to implement the first phase of "customs clearance" as early as January 8. In addition to the ports that are currently open, some ports that have been closed for a long time will resume operations. Chan Kwok-kee said that in the initial stage of "customs clearance", the SAR government will preset appropriate arrangements for the number of passengers traveling between the mainland and Hong Kong, and gradually increase the frequency of sea, land and air transportation between the mainland and Hong Kong to meet actual needs. Based on the operation of the first phase of "customs clearance", the SAR government will further expand the scale and eventually achieve comprehensive "customs clearance".
Starting from January 2023, mainland tourists coming to Taiwan will be required to undergo PCR testing. China's Taiwan Epidemic Command Center announced on December 28 that starting from 0:00 on January 1, 2023, it will strengthen testing measures for passengers coming to Taiwan from mainland China, and will cooperate with 7-day independent epidemic prevention and self-screening.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-