From Wednesday it is From August 30, visitors from outside China no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test to be admitted.
The Associated press reports that Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, said at a press conference on Monday that the requirement for testing for the coronavirus has been lifted is an important step towards reopening China to the rest of the world.
The Asian country lifted quarantine rules for Chinese nationals returning from abroad in January. The government has not only increased the number of foreign flights, but also expanded the list of countries to which travelers are allowed to travel.
Since last week Starting October 29, Delta Air Lines has added ten weekly flights from Seattle and Detroit to Shanghai-Pudong International Airport. The airline will begin four weekly flights from Los Angeles to PVG in March 2024; this route has not been served since before the pandemic.
Following China’s ‘zero COVID’ policy, which led to city-wide lockdowns and extended quarantines for infected individuals, efforts to lift COVID-related restrictions have continued.
Previously, travelers were forced to self-lock in government-approved hotels for weeks, stunting the growth of the world’s second-largest economy, increasing unemployment and sparking widespread protests against the forced closures.
Chinese officials said this earlier this month group excursions would be allowed again for several countries, That would be the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, group travel to Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United States are allowed, but not to Canada.