China lifts off Covid-19 testing for incoming travelers

China ended its “zero-COVID” policy only in December, after years of draconian curbs that at times included full-city lockdowns.

Published on: Aug 28, 2023, 13:40:40 IST

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China will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test result from incoming travelers starting Wednesday. It is a milestone toward ending the virus restrictions imposed in China since early 2020.

Arriving travelers queue for Covid-19 tests at Changshui International Airport in Kunming, China (Bloomberg)

Also read: North Korea eases Covid curbs, allowing stranded citizens to return after 3 years of isolation

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the change at a briefing Monday.

China ended its “zero-COVID” policy only in December, after years of draconian curbs that at times included full-city lockdowns and lengthy quarantines for people who were infected.

Also read: Covid-19 infection linked with high blood pressure in adults, finds study

As part of those measures, incoming travelers were required to quarantine for weeks at government-designated hotels.

The curbs slowed the world’s second-largest economy, leading to rising unemployment and rare instances of unrest.