Chinese Airline Bans Transit Travelers Through 21 Countries
5 Minute Read
On November 2, 2020, China Southern Airlines announced on its official website that it would suspend the transit of passengers from 21 countries to China, involving 9 African countries, 2 Central and South American countries, 8 Asian countries and 2 European countries, starting from November 3.
Image: The Announcement Issued by China Southern Airlines
Source: https://www.csair.com/cn/about/news/notice/2020/1em49alug2ppd.shtml
List of 21 Countries
As announced by China Southern Airlines, international passengers whose tickets involve transit from of through the following 21 countries should contact the ticket sales organization for cancellation or refund:
Image: List of 21 countries China Southern Airlines announced it would suspends the transit of passengers to China
42 Countries:
2 tests within 48 hours before boarding
Due to the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak, 42 Chinese embassies abroad have issued statements requiring Chinese and foreign passengers flying to China to present negative results of serum IgM antibody test and nucleic acid test within 48 hours before boarding. As the timing of implementation could vary from countries to countries, below is the specific schedule of those 42 countries.
For more information, click here.
Furthermore, according to the announcement issued by the Chinese Embassy, the major transit countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, South Korea and Ethiopia, have not resumed passenger entry business or conducted the secondary nucleic acid and IgM serum testing services in the transfer area of the airport. Therefore, passengers are advised to take a direct flight to China.
Q&A
To reduce the risk of cross-border transmission of the pandemic, Chinese and foreign passengers are required to hold two negative certificates. Here are further responses about the virus test changes to travelers coming to China from the Consulate General of the PRC in Chicago and Embassy of the PRC in Congo.
What are the requirements for double test certification?
Nucleic acid detection and serum IgM antibody detection can be carried out separately in different institutions, but only in one embassy/consulate area.
Do the foreign passengers need to undergo a secondary nucleic acid test?
Yes, the second PCR nucleic acid and IgM antibody tests are required for all overseas passengers entering China.
Infants and toddlers under the age of 3 who are on a direct flight to China do not need to be tested for COVID-19.
If passengers are on the connecting flight through a third country with a valid health code, shall they carry out these two tests for the second time at the transit site?
Yes, they must complete a nucleic acid test and a serum IgM antibody test at a testing center for the second time, and obtain the second health code before taking the next flight to China.
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