The Ministry of Transportation of China recommended this Wednesday to anyone traveling during the Lunar New Year holidays, which in 2023 will take place between January 21 and 27, to do so “in a staggered manner” to avoid massive infections by Covid -19.
According to a guide from the Chinese Ministry, PCR tests and Covid-19 passports will not be required to travel and the competent authorities will dismantle the checkpoints previously installed to restrict the passage of vehicles on the roads.
“To guarantee safe and calm family gatherings, cities should try to stagger trips and transport departments should increase the frequency to meet demand,” says the guide, released by the local press.
According to the Ministry, in the event of a large-scale outbreak of Covid-19, “emergency plans must be put in place” to avoid the suspension of means of transport.
This year, the number of passengers will increase substantially, according to the Ministry, noting that measures must be taken to guarantee “the normal transport of energy, food and basic necessities, as well as the transport of vaccines, antigens and other medical resources”. . .
The reduction of restrictions this month brought a wave of infections that some provinces estimate in millions a day, since the Health Commission finished last weekend providing the daily report of infections at the national level.
Hospitals in large cities such as Beijing have had difficulties caring for all patients, according to testimonials collected on the country’s social networks.
China also announced on Tuesday that it will resume issuing passports for tourism.
The Chinese government stopped issuing visas to foreigners and passports to Chinese at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.
China’s National Immigration Administration said it will start receiving visa applications for tourists who want to travel abroad on January 8. The agency said it will accept applications to extend, renew or reissue visas, but gave no indication of when they will first be issued to applicants.
Hong Kong will remove some of its measures to combat Covid-19, including PCR tests for arriving travelers and vaccination requirements to enter certain places, the city’s leader said on Wednesday.
“Our society as a whole has built a high-level and extensive immunity barrier (against Covid-19),” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee told a news conference.
More than 80% of the city’s population has at least three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Close contacts of those who have tested positive for Covid-19 will no longer need to self-isolate in Hong Kong, Lee said, and there will no longer be a limit on the number of diners per table in restaurants. The measures will come into effect from Thursday.
However, it will still be necessary to wear masks in public unless residents are exercising, as the removal of masks could lead to an increase in respiratory illnesses such as the flu, just as Hong Kong faces a seasonal rise in flu cases, Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said at the press conference.
In September, Hong Kong lifted quarantine requirements for incoming travelers in a bid to boost tourism after more than two years of entry restrictions.
Starting January 8, China will no longer require arriving travelers to quarantine, officials said earlier this week.
Source: TSF
