China to drop travel tracing requirement as it relaxes strict 'zero-COVID' policy
2 years, 3 months ago

China to drop travel tracing requirement as it relaxes strict 'zero-COVID' policy

Firstpost  

The move follows the government’s snap announcement last week that it was ending many of the most draconian measures Beijing: China will drop a travel tracing requirement as part of an uncertain exit from its strict “zero-COVID” policies that have elicited widespread dissatisfaction. The move follows the government’s snap announcement last week that it was ending many of the most draconian measures. China’s leaders had long praised “zero COVID" for keeping numbers of cases and deaths much lower than in other nations, but health officials are now saying the most prevalent omicron variety poses much less of a risk. The uncertainty and apparent growing number of cases — despite the lack of government data — have forced the cancellation of events from foreign embassy holiday parties to next spring’s Formula One Chinese Grand Prix car race in Shanghai.

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History of this topic

How COVID-19 Transformed China’s Domestic and International Trajectory
2 months, 3 weeks ago

How COVID-19 Transformed China’s Domestic and International Trajectory

The Diplomat  

Five years after the novel coronavirus first emerged, China’s major metropolises bear virtually no visible scars of their unprecedented battle with COVID-19. State media acknowledged that the extremely high gross domestic saving rate – over 44 percent in 2023 – reflects “people’s growing insecurity about the future and their inclination to save as a precaution against risks.” Despite Beijing’s efforts …

Are hospitals in China being overwhelmed by HMPV patients? Should India worry?
2 months, 4 weeks ago

Are hospitals in China being overwhelmed by HMPV patients? Should India worry?

Firstpost  

There are reports that the human metapneumovirus, which causes flu-like symptoms, has left hospitals and emergency rooms overwhelmed. Hospitals in China Overwhelmed as Severe "Flu" Outbreak, Including Influenza A and HMPV, Resembling 2020 COVID Surge. pic.twitter.com/GWw9u6JxsX — Boar News December 29, 2024 ⚠️ BREAKING: Hospitals in China 🇨🇳 Overwhelmed as Severe "Flu" Outbreak, Including Influenza A and HMPV, Resembling 2020 …

China downplays reports of huge HMPV flu outbreak, assures travel across country is safe
2 months, 4 weeks ago

China downplays reports of huge HMPV flu outbreak, assures travel across country is safe

India TV News  

China on Friday played down reports of a massive outbreak of flu in the country overwhelming hospitals, saying that cases of the respiratory diseases which occur during the winter were less severe this year compared to last year. "Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season in the northern hemisphere," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the media …

Is there an epidemic brewing in China?
3 months ago

Is there an epidemic brewing in China?

India Today  

Social media platforms have been inundated with alarming claims about a new epidemic spreading across China. Users are sharing videos showing overcrowded hospitals and suggesting the rapid spread of multiple respiratory viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and COVID-19. However, there is currently no credible evidence to support these claims, and official confirmation from health authorities remains absent. The …

Covid origin: China defends its ‘global traceability research’ stance after WHO seeks more access
3 months ago

Covid origin: China defends its ‘global traceability research’ stance after WHO seeks more access

Firstpost  

China claims that it has been the only country that organised experts to share traceability progress, data and research results of COVID-19 with the World Health Organization on many occasions Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease, in Wuhan, …

COVID-19 infections not problematic, experts say
7 months, 2 weeks ago

COVID-19 infections not problematic, experts say

China Daily  

The number of people in China being infected with COVID-19 is fluctuating reasonably and won't be a burden on medical resources or the public, experts said. However, the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases said the percentage of people catching flu and testing positive for COVID-19 rose from 8.9 percent in early July to 18.7 percent late last month. "COVID-19 …

Amendment to improve health, quarantine measures
9 months ago

Amendment to improve health, quarantine measures

China Daily  

Visitors line up for check in at Beijing Daxing International Airport. Chinese lawmakers on Friday passed an amendment to China's Frontier Health and Quarantine Law to prevent cross-border transmission of infectious diseases and resolve major public health threats. The General Administration of Customs, China's top customs authority, should also keep upgrading or streamlining quarantine procedures based on monitoring and risk …

China stands alone in its attitude towards the pandemic
1 year, 1 month ago

China stands alone in its attitude towards the pandemic

Hindustan Times  

The omicron variant of COVID-19 poses enormous challenges for governments. In America, cases are at three times their previous peak in January 2021, hospitals are as busy as they have ever been and deaths have risen by 40% in two weeks to 1,800 per day. Covid In China: Security guards wearing personal protective equipment amid the Covid-19 pandemic sit at …

China’s Management of Covid-19 Crisis: A Case Study in Disinformation and Censorship - News18
1 year, 2 months ago

China’s Management of Covid-19 Crisis: A Case Study in Disinformation and Censorship - News18

News 18  

Censorship, surveillance, and authoritarianism have become synonyms with China in recent years. The court observed that had the government officials heeded to the warnings from the detained healthcare workers and adopted precautionary measures than taking punitive measures by labelling them as rumourmonger, “it would’ve meant we could better control the coronavirus today.” Dr Li contracted covid19 on January 8, 2020, …

China tries to ‘bury the memory’ and trauma of zero-COVID era
1 year, 3 months ago

China tries to ‘bury the memory’ and trauma of zero-COVID era

Al Jazeera  

A year after Beijing abandoned the policy’s strict lockdowns and endless testing, its failures remain unaddressed. “Doctors and nurses were rushing around everywhere between long lines of patients waiting their turn, and people were even sitting on the floor and against the walls,” Ma, who is 36 and works as a sales representative in China’s northeastern Shandong province, told Al …

China says a surge in respiratory illnesses is caused by flu and other known pathogens
1 year, 4 months ago

China says a surge in respiratory illnesses is caused by flu and other known pathogens

Associated Press  

BEIJING — A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country’s health ministry said Sunday. Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza virus, rhinoviruses, the …

Chinese hospitals ‘overwhelmed with sick children’ after surge in respiratory illness
1 year, 4 months ago

Chinese hospitals ‘overwhelmed with sick children’ after surge in respiratory illness

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy China insists it has not …

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO
1 year, 4 months ago

No ‘unusual’ virus behind rising Pneumonia cases China has clarified, reveals WHO

Firstpost  

Since mid-October 2023, the World Health Organization has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China China has reiterated that no unusual or new pathogens have been detected in the upsurge in child respiratory illnesses in the north, the WHO said on Thursday after putting pressure on Beijing for detailed …

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please
1 year, 4 months ago

China's pneumonia scare: Transparency please

Live Mint  

China, where covid broke out in November 2019, is in the spotlight again. The World Health Organization has asked the country for details on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children. In a recent statement, the WHO noted an increase in influenza-like ailments compared to the same autumn of the past three years in China’s …

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO
1 year, 4 months ago

Spike in illnesses isn’t a new pathogen, China reassures WHO

Salon  

An outbreak of respiratory illnesses in China has sparked alarm, but the sudden rise in sickness is not related to a new virus, according to Chinese health authorities. So far, the data suggests that there’s nothing out of the ordinary, but both the WHO and China have been criticized in the past for not being entirely transparent about the COVID-19 …

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’
1 year, 4 months ago

On China pneumonia outbreak, scientists caution to not press ‘pandemic panic button’

Hindustan Times  

Leading scientists urged caution over fears of another pandemic on Thursday after the World Health Organization requested more information from China on a rise of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia clusters among children. The standard wording of the alert echoed the first-ever notice about what would become COVID-19, sent on Dec. 30 2019: "Undiagnosed pneumonia - China." "I am not going …

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says
1 year, 4 months ago

China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says

CNN  

CNN — Chinese health authorities told the World Health Organization on Thursday that a spike in cases of children with pneumonia or respiratory illness in the northern part of the country stems from typical seasonal germs rather than any novel or unknown pathogen, the organization said. At Thursday’s teleconference, WHO said, the Chinese officials reported enhanced surveillance of respiratory illnesses …

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?
1 year, 4 months ago

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?

Firstpost  

China’s leading respiratory illness expert Zhong Nanshan has warned of a minor COVID-19 surge in the winter and urged the elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated as soon as possible Concerned about an increase of COVID-19 infections in the current winter season, Chinese experts have issued an alert and advised vaccination for vulnerable and old groups. The Chinese Centre …

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter
1 year, 4 months ago

China on ALERT over likely COVID-19 relapse ahead of winter

India TV News  

COVID-19 alert: Ahead of the winter season, an alert has been sounded across China about the relapse of COVID-19 infections and experts have asked elderly and vulnerable populations to get vaccinated. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a total of 209 new severe COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths caused by COVID-19 were reported across the country …

Millions take to China's railways, roads, air in 1st big autumn holiday since end of zero-COVID
1 year, 6 months ago

Millions take to China's railways, roads, air in 1st big autumn holiday since end of zero-COVID

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Over the last few years with the pandemic, there's …

China removes COVID-19 testing for travellers in apparent bid to revive deteriorating economy
1 year, 7 months ago

China removes COVID-19 testing for travellers in apparent bid to revive deteriorating economy

India TV News  

In a milestone towards ending COVID-19 restrictions since 2020, incoming travellers to China will no longer need a negative test from Wednesday. China's zero-COVID policy Under the 'zero COVID' policy, China introduced draconian measures that prevented most Chinese citizens from traveling abroad, limited face-to-face diplomatic exchanges and sharply reduced the number of foreigners in China for work and study. Although …

‘Mayhem’: China warned by US, France on air safety during COVID
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Mayhem’: China warned by US, France on air safety during COVID

Al Jazeera  

Emails obtained from the US Federal Aviation Administration reveal concerns over Beijing’s ‘zero COVID’ policy. China’s strict COVID rules for flights during the pandemic were repeatedly flagged as an air safety risk by foreign officials, with one diplomat describing the situation as “mayhem and even dangerous”, newly released emails reveal. In August 2021, the French embassy in Beijing warned the …

China Omits Cremation Data to Hide True Pandemic Death Toll following Lifting of Covid Zero
1 year, 9 months ago

China Omits Cremation Data to Hide True Pandemic Death Toll following Lifting of Covid Zero

News 18  

A Chinese quarterly report on marriage and social welfare for the fourth quarter of 2022 dropped the section highlighting the number of cremations held last winter, indicating that it withheld a key indicator of the pandemic death toll when China faced its largest wave of Covid-19 cases. If the data were released, the quarterly or year-on-year comparison could be used …

Learn from missteps in Covid’s early days
1 year, 10 months ago

Learn from missteps in Covid’s early days

Hindustan Times  

Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, the World Health Organization declared last week, roughly 1,200 days after it first learnt of a new coronavirus spreading through Wuhan, China. Still, WHO’s word is a strong determinant in global health discourse and on this count, the agency fell short in its mission, especially in the early days of the pandemic. …

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 10 months ago

China to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over

Firstpost  

A top Chinese health official said that despite the World Health Organisation ending the worldwide emergency designation for COVID-19, the virus is still dangerous and China will continue to monitor it while boosting vaccination rates among high-risk groups. According to Liang Wannian, head of China’s COVID-19 response expert group under the National Health Commission, the warning status being lifted by …

Which countries still have Covid travel restrictions?
1 year, 10 months ago

Which countries still have Covid travel restrictions?

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United States will finally align with most major tourist nations by scrapping its remaining Covid …

Travellers no longer need to produce PCR Covid test to enter China
1 year, 11 months ago

Travellers no longer need to produce PCR Covid test to enter China

Hindustan Times  

Travellers entering China will no longer need to provide a negative PCR test result starting from Saturday, in another easing of China's “zero-COVID” policies. China covid: Travellers can instead show a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours before boarding. Read here: China’s covid drugmakers' shares surge amid concern over new wave Travellers can instead show a negative antigen …

China travel bookings recover to pre-Covid levels, expects May Day holiday boom
1 year, 11 months ago

China travel bookings recover to pre-Covid levels, expects May Day holiday boom

Hindustan Times  

Travel bookings in China have recovered to pre-pandemic levels after being suppressed last year by zero-Covid policies and are set to boom for the upcoming May Day holiday, according to data from popular booking apps. China travel bookings recover to pre-Covid levels, expects May Day holiday boom By April 6, orders of domestic travel for the holiday had reached pre-Covid …

China keen to restart direct flights to India
2 years ago

China keen to restart direct flights to India

Live Mint  

China is keen to resume direct flights with India and negotiating on the matter in the next few months, according to people aware of the matter. China’s strict covid-19 travel restrictions also played an important role in closing off direct flights. We hope that direct flights between China and India will be resumed as soon as possible.” A query to …

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
2 years ago

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives

Associated Press  

BEIJING — When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasn’t ready for a massive onslaught of cases, with hospitals turning away ambulances and crematoriums burning bodies around the clock. Chinese state media claimed the decision to open up was based on “scientific analysis and shrewd calculation,” and “by no means impulsive.” But in reality, China’s ruling …

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
2 years ago

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives

Associated Press  

BEIJING — When China suddenly scrapped onerous zero-COVID measures in December, the country wasn’t ready for a massive onslaught of cases. “It wasn’t a sound public health decision at all,” said a China CDC official, declining to be named to speak candidly on a sensitive matter. At a mid-April internal panel discussion recently made public by the Beijing-based Center for …

DC Edit | Covid isn't over, be cautious
2 years ago

DC Edit | Covid isn't over, be cautious

Deccan Chronicle  

After lying low for quite some time, the Covid-19 virus has started rearing its head again in the country. The daily caseload which came down to two digits towards the end of the last year has of late been crossing 1,000; as per the health ministry data, India logged 1,300 new cases, the highest in 140 days, on Thursday while …

China’s rushed exit from zero-Covid may have cost hundreds of thousands of lives
2 years ago

China’s rushed exit from zero-Covid may have cost hundreds of thousands of lives

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It wasn’t a sound public health decision at all,” …

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives
2 years ago

Ignoring experts, China’s sudden zero-COVID exit cost lives

LA Times  

An elderly patient uses a ventilator in the hallway of the emergency ward in Beijing in January. Chinese state media claimed the decision to open up was based on “scientific analysis and shrewd calculation,” and “by no means impulsive.” But in reality, China’s ruling Communist Party ignored repeated efforts by top medical experts to kick-start exit plans until it was …

China opens borders to tourists after 3 years of restrictions
2 years ago

China opens borders to tourists after 3 years of restrictions

The Hindu  

China will, starting March 15, 2023, fully reopen its borders and allow tourists back into the country after three years of pandemic restrictions. Foreigners “with valid visas issued before March 28, 2020 will be allowed to enter China”, the National Immigration Administration said in a notice, adding that it had “decided to adjust policies of foreigners’ visas and entry from …

China is fully reopening to tourists after three years of border restrictions
2 years ago

China is fully reopening to tourists after three years of border restrictions

CNN  

Hong Kong CNN — After three years of pandemic border restrictions, China is fully reopening to foreign visitors – including tourists. In a Chinese-language statement posted on its website Monday, China’s Embassy in the United States said the country would resume issuing all categories of visas for foreigners from Wednesday. Chinese authorities last month declared a “major and decisive victory” …

China is set to resume issuing visas for foreigners: All you need to know
2 years ago

China is set to resume issuing visas for foreigners: All you need to know

Hindustan Times  

China will resume issuing visas to tourists and other foreigners from March 15 marking a step in the country’s move to leave its strict Covid restrictions behind, China’s embassy in the US said in a statement. China Resumes Issuing Visas: Pedestrian and motorists cross a traffic intersection near the Central Business District in Beijing. China moved away from its Covid-zero …

China to resume issuing visas to foreigners starting March 15
2 years ago

China to resume issuing visas to foreigners starting March 15

ABC  

China will start reissuing all categories of visas to foreigners from Wednesday, dropping the final cross-border control measure it imposed three years ago to guard against the spread of COVID-19. Key points: Beijing dismantled its zero-COVID policy in December and opened the country's borders a month later China has added another 40 countries to its list for which group tours …

’China’s Zero Covid Policy completely…’: What Premiere Li Qiang had to say
2 years ago

’China’s Zero Covid Policy completely…’: What Premiere Li Qiang had to say

Live Mint  

China got its new Premiere Li Qiang, who delivered his first speech on Monday. During his speech, Qiang vehemently defended the unenviable Zero Covid Policy brought about by the Xi Jinping government in the East Asian country. Qiang said the Zero Covid strategy followed by the country for over three years which hurt its economic growth also led to public …

COVID test requirement lifted for travelers from China to US
2 years ago

COVID test requirement lifted for travelers from China to US

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A requirement that travelers to …

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday
2 years ago

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday

LA Times  

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The restrictions were put in place Dec. 28 and took effect Jan. 5 amid the surge in China after the government sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as U.S. health officials expressed concerns that their …

Beijing needs to be ‘more honest about what happened in Wuhan’, says US envoy to China
2 years, 1 month ago

Beijing needs to be ‘more honest about what happened in Wuhan’, says US envoy to China

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

South Korea to lift Covid test requirement for travellers from China
2 years, 1 month ago

South Korea to lift Covid test requirement for travellers from China

Hindustan Times  

South Korea will not require travellers from China to test for COVID-19 after arrival starting next month, although they will still need to take pre-departure tests, a senior South Korean official said on Wednesday, in the country's latest relaxing of rules that were put in place after China's reopening. South Korea had imposed a number of border measures on passengers …

South Korea to scrap some COVID tests for travellers from China
2 years, 1 month ago

South Korea to scrap some COVID tests for travellers from China

Al Jazeera  

South Korean authorities will no longer require arrivals from China to do a COVID test from next month. South Korea will not require travellers from China to test for COVID-19 after arrival, starting next month, although they will still need to take pre-departure tests, a senior South Korean official has said, in the country’s latest relaxing of rules put in …

China says 200 million treated for COVID since November, pandemic ‘decisively’ beaten
2 years, 1 month ago

China says 200 million treated for COVID since November, pandemic ‘decisively’ beaten

LA Times  

Commuters during the morning rush hour in the central business district of Beijing on Thursday. China says more than 200 million of its citizens have been diagnosed and treated for COVID-19 since it lifted strict containment measures beginning in November. With 800,000 of the most critically ill patients having recovered, China has “decisively beaten” the pandemic, according to notes from …

China to resume issuing short-term visas for tourists from South Korea
2 years, 1 month ago

China to resume issuing short-term visas for tourists from South Korea

Hindustan Times  

China will resume issuing short-term visas for South Korean nationals on February 18, the Chinese embassy in Seoul said Wednesday. / China OUT The move follows South Korea's decision last week to end Covid-linked travel restrictions on Chinese nationals -- rules that sparked a furious response and tit-for-tat measures from Beijing. From Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Seoul and other …

COVID-19 infections continue to decline in China
2 years, 1 month ago

COVID-19 infections continue to decline in China

China Daily  

People wearing masks walk on a street in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, Jan 21, 2023. The Chinese mainland reported over 80,000 COVID-19-related deaths at hospitals from Dec 8 to Feb 9, as the numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths associated with the disease have been trending downward consistently this year, data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention show. …

South Korea to resume issuing short-term visas for China travellers on Feb 11
2 years, 1 month ago

South Korea to resume issuing short-term visas for China travellers on Feb 11

India Today  

South Korea plans to resume issuing short-term visas for travellers from China on Saturday after China improved its Covid-19 situation, Seoul officials said on Friday. South Korea suspended issuing short-term visas to Chinese visitors last month after China abruptly ended its stringent "zero-Covid" policy, leading to a wave of infections. Kim Sung-ho, South Korea's vice interior minister in charge of …

China’s post-pandemic travel plans slowed by eight-week wait for visas to Europe
2 years, 1 month ago

China’s post-pandemic travel plans slowed by eight-week wait for visas to Europe

Firstpost  

China’s abrupt removal of Covid curbs caught certain embassies and consulates in the country off guard and understaffed, making it difficult to issue visas and delaying the restart of international economic operations, according to a report New Delhi: China’s abrupt removal of Covid curbs caught certain embassies and consulates in the country off guard and understaffed, making it difficult to …

China to fully resume travel with Hong Kong, Macau on February 6
2 years, 1 month ago

China to fully resume travel with Hong Kong, Macau on February 6

Hindustan Times  

China said on Friday that cross border travel between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau would fully resume from Feb. 6, dropping existing quotas and scrapping a mandatory COVID-19 test that was required before travelling. Group tours between China and its two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau would resume, while the number of customs checkpoints open will …

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