China frees incoming travellers from COVID-free requirements
Beijing had placed curbs on incoming travellers under its strict “zero-COVID” policy, requiring them to produce negative test results
By : Agencies
Update: 2023-08-29 10:10 GMT
China will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test result from incoming travellers starting Wednesday (August 30).
It is a milestone toward ending the virus restrictions imposed in China since early 2020.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the change at a briefing on Monday (August 28).
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.
As part of those measures, incoming travellers 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.