Pre-departure COVID measures for travel to China relaxed

Though China is remaining committed to the “dynamic COVID-zero” approach at home, certain changes recently announced by Chinese embassies abroad hint at a growing emphasis on “dynamic,” as it is becoming easier for Chinese nationals overseas to return home, as well as foreign nationals holding valid visas.

Embassies in the United States, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, and Thailand, among others, yesterday (May 18) announced relaxed pre-departure requirements for those wishing to return, including scrapping CT or X-ray examinations of the lungs for those who have previously been infected with COVID-19.

In addition, IgM antibody testing is no longer required for some countries, including the United States, while seven days of health monitoring prior to departure is no longer required. Though “double PCR testing” from different laboratories is still needed for the US prior to travel.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, two tests prior to departure are also required — one 48 hours before travel and a second 24 hours before boarding from two different approved testing laboratories.

For Thailand, requirements for passengers to take PCR tests 14 and seven days prior to departure have been abandoned.

Travellers are still required to meet the relaxed measures prior to leaving for China China in order to receive a health code for travel. Quarantine upon arrival in China is still mandatory, with quarantine requirements varying city by city.

Earlier this year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that 2023 would mark the beginning of a “recovery period” for the international aviation sector.

The relaxed requirements are in response to “characteristics of COVID-19 and virus variants,” which indicate that China, to some degree, has acknowledged that newer variants of the virus allow for changes in COVID policy.

Meanwhile, slight changes are also taking place domestically, as Beijing recently shortened quarantine periods for those in centralized quarantine from 14 to 10 days.

Written by Hazza Harding

Posted by Li Jiehuang

Producer: Michelle Luo Liting

Executive Producer: Lin Weiqing