China’s travel industry braces for Wuhan coronavirus disruption
4 years, 11 months ago

China’s travel industry braces for Wuhan coronavirus disruption

CNN  

Hong Kong / Beijing CNN Business — China’s biggest online travel agency is waiving cancellation fees for trips to the central Chinese city of Wuhan as a deadly new virus sparks fear in the country. Local authorities in the central China city of Wuhan have delayed the city’s 2020 Lunar New Year celebration set to begin Saturday, amid fears that a pneumonia-causing virus is spreading through the city. The decision Tuesday by Trip.com, also known as Ctrip, is one of the first signs of China’s travel industry starting to respond to the new coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan and has killed at least six people and sickened hundreds. At least one Chinese state media outlet, the China Youth Daily, has suggested that the nation’s railways and airlines waive cancellation fees to help “contain the spread of the disease.” Fliggy and Qunar.com, two smaller agencies, announced similar policies Tuesday.

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History of this topic

Is COVID making a return to China this winter?
1 year, 1 month 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 travel bookings recover to pre-Covid levels, expects May Day holiday boom
1 year, 8 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 …

Hong Kong airport’s passenger volume surges as China reopens
1 year, 10 months ago

Hong Kong airport’s passenger volume surges as China reopens

Hindustan Times  

The number of people passing through Hong Kong’s airport skyrocketed last month as travel restrictions eased and China reopened borders for the first time since the pandemic began. Hong Kong International Airport reported 2.1 million passengers in January, nearly 2,900% growth from the same period last year. FILE PHOTO: A passenger walks to the First Class counter of Cathay Pacific …

Hong Kong carriers forced to cancel 150 flights to Japan
1 year, 11 months ago

Hong Kong carriers forced to cancel 150 flights to Japan

Firstpost  

New Delhi: At least 150 flights will be cancelled from Hong Kong to Japan in the coming month as the country continues to impose limits on planes from the city. The Seoul notice, posted on the embassy’s WeChat social media account, said the ban would continue until South Korea lifts its “discriminatory entry measures” against China. A South Korean Foreign …

China’s most scenic destinations packed with tourists despite covid risks
1 year, 11 months ago

China’s most scenic destinations packed with tourists despite covid risks

Hindustan Times  

China’s most scenic destinations have been inundated during the Spring Festival holiday, as Beijing’s shift away from Covid Zero spurred a travel frenzy despite the country’s ongoing omicron outbreak. Almost 34,400 tourists visited the jagged mountain ranges of Huangshan in Anhui province on Jan. 24, the highest daily figure during Chinese New Year since 2018, the area’s management group said …

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information
1 year, 11 months ago

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December following weeks of complaints it was failing to tell the world what was happening. The report would more than double China’s official COVID-19 death toll to 10,775 since the disease …

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information
1 year, 11 months ago

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

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 The World Health Organization has …

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information
1 year, 11 months ago

WHO appeals to China to release more COVID-19 information

LA Times  

Travelers prepare to catch their trains in Beijing on Sunday. The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December following weeks of complaints it was failing to tell the world what was happening. The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep …

China defends its move against South Korea, Japan Covid travel curbs: 'Reasonable...'
1 year, 11 months ago

China defends its move against South Korea, Japan Covid travel curbs: 'Reasonable...'

Hindustan Times  

Chinese state media defended on Wednesday the retaliatory measures against South Korea and Japan over their COVID-19 travel curbs as "reasonable", while Chinese tourists decried Seoul's "insulting" treatment on social media. China defends its move against South Korea, Japan Covid travel curbs. South Korean foreign minister Park Jin has said that Seoul's decision was based on scientific evidence and that …

Travelers rush to take advantage of China reopening
2 years ago

Travelers rush to take advantage of China reopening

Associated Press  

BEIJING — After years of separation from his wife in mainland China, Hong Kong resident Cheung Seng-bun made sure to be among the first in line following the reopening Sunday of border crossing points. On a visit to the station Sunday morning, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said the sides would continue to expand the number of crossing points …

Global Covid scare witnesses surge amid resumption of air travel by China
2 years ago

Global Covid scare witnesses surge amid resumption of air travel by China

India TV News  

As China opened borders and resumed travel on Sunday, billions of local travellers are set to make overseas trips in the next few days, triggering Covid surge concerns in various countries. "The order numbers for international flights recorded a year-on-year growth of 628 per cent, reaching the highest since March 2020, data from online travel agency LY.com showed," said the …

Travelers rush to take advantage of China reopening
2 years ago

Travelers rush to take advantage of China reopening

LA Times  

A woman holding a bouquet of flowers reacts with her relatives surrounded by journalists as she arrives from Hong Kong, at Terminal 3 international arrival hall of the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Sunday. Travelers crossing between Hong Kong and mainland China, however, are still required to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 48 hours, …

China ‘under-representing’ severity of COVID outbreak, says WHO
2 years ago

China ‘under-representing’ severity of COVID outbreak, says WHO

Al Jazeera  

A senior official at the WHO criticised China’s ‘too narrow’ definition for COVID-related deaths. China’s official data is under-representing the true impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, a senior World Health Organization official has said, criticising its “very narrow” definition of COVID deaths. Meanwhile, in a briefing earlier on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated that the …

Chinese return to regular activities amid COVID surge
2 years ago

Chinese return to regular activities amid COVID surge

Al Jazeera  

Some residents in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan are getting back to normal life after the end of ‘zero-COVID’ measures. China’s biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, begins on January 21 this year, when the railway network is expected to carry 5.5 million passengers, state broadcaster CCTV has said. Amid the expected surge of holiday travel, authorities at Tibet’s …

Airlines give lukewarm reaction to China’s border reopening amid Covid-19 surge
2 years ago

Airlines give lukewarm reaction to China’s border reopening amid Covid-19 surge

Hindustan Times  

The world’s airlines are taking a cautious approach to China’s reopening, reluctant to immediately change up schedules and divert planes from other routes despite the internal pent-up demand for international travel. Airlines give lukewarm reaction to China’s border reopening amid Covid-19 surge Scheduled flights into China during January, February and March are up no more than 2.9% this week compared …

Japan eases COVID curbs on flights from Hong Kong after backlash
2 years ago

Japan eases COVID curbs on flights from Hong Kong after backlash

Al Jazeera  

Hong Kong travellers will be able to fly into three more Japanese airports than previously as measures eased. Japan has partially eased COVID-19 restrictions limiting flights from Hong Kong to a handful of designated airports following protests by the Chinese territory’s government. Japan, a popular destination for Hong Kong residents, will now allow travellers from the financial hub to fly …

DC Edit | China endangering world again
2 years ago

DC Edit | China endangering world again

Deccan Chronicle  

China’s healthcare system is buckling under the strain of its latest and outlandish decision of taking down all Covid controls so rapidly that the country is endangering the world all over again. From late 2019 in Wuhan where the pathogen may have jumped species to spread panic over the coronavirus to the close of 2022, China took several decisions that …

China’s pivot in COVID plan sparks jitters worldwide
2 years ago

China’s pivot in COVID plan sparks jitters worldwide

The Hindu  

Beijing’s sudden pivot away from containing COVID-19 has caused jitters around the world, with the United States saying it may restrict travel from China following its decision to end mandatory quarantine for overseas arrivals. China late on Monday scrapped quarantine for inbound travellers from January 8 onwards, dismantling the last remaining piece of its stringent zero-COVID policy and ending some …

China to lift Covid-19 travel restrictions after 3 years of coronavirus lockdown
2 years ago

China to lift Covid-19 travel restrictions after 3 years of coronavirus lockdown

Hindustan Times  

Come January, China will practically abandon its three-year-old zero Covid policy and its international isolation, fully opening its airports and ports for travel and trade amid the massive coronavirus outbreak in the country. China to finally lift Covid-19 travel restrictions after 3 years of coronavirus lockdown Starting from January 8, China will cancel nucleic acid tests for international arrivals, the …

Chinese Make Travel Plans as Ban Lifted but Covid Curbs in these Nations to Dampen Mood
2 years ago

Chinese Make Travel Plans as Ban Lifted but Covid Curbs in these Nations to Dampen Mood

News 18  

China announced it will lift restrictions on outbound travel this week after a period of almost three years. China, which implemented the Covid Zero strategy – where focus lied on eliminating the virus – and subjected people to mass quarantine, mass testing and snap lockdowns, is seeing a major surge in Covid cases as Chinese President Xi Jinping did a …

China Covid surge: As Beijing relaxes travel curbs, all eyes on overburdened health infra
2 years ago

China Covid surge: As Beijing relaxes travel curbs, all eyes on overburdened health infra

India Today  

As China moves to reopen borders, millions isolated in the country for over three years now have welcomed the decision with an outpouring of joy and relief. Searches for popular destinations increased tenfold within minutes of the announcement, with several searching for outbound group tours during the Lunar New Year holiday season in late January. However, the decision to relax …

Families rejoice after years of separation as China ends inbound quarantine
2 years ago

Families rejoice after years of separation as China ends inbound quarantine

CNN  

Hong Kong CNN — China’s partial reopening has been met with an outpouring of joy and relief from citizens – both the hundreds of millions isolated inside the country for the past three years and those overseas separated from their loved ones. “Finally, everybody can their normal life,” said one Chinese national living in New York, who hasn’t been home …

Jubilant Chinese plan trips as inbound Covid quarantine set to end
2 years ago

Jubilant Chinese plan trips as inbound Covid quarantine set to end

Firstpost  

Cases have surged in China as key pillars of the containment policy have fallen away, with authorities acknowledging the outbreak is “impossible” to track and doing away with much-maligned official case tallies Beijing: People in China reacted with joy and rushed to book flights overseas Tuesday after Beijing said it would scrap mandatory Covid quarantine for overseas arrivals, ending almost …

Chinese make travel plans as Covid rules ease further
2 years ago

Chinese make travel plans as Covid rules ease further

India Today  

Chinese people, cut off from the rest of the world for three years by Covid-19 curbs, flocked to travel sites on Tuesday ahead of borders reopening, even as rising infections strained the health system and roiled the economy. Zero-tolerance measures - from shuttered borders to frequent lockdowns - have battered China's economy since early 2020, fuelling last month the mainland's …

Companies welcome end to China quarantines for visitors
2 years ago

Companies welcome end to China quarantines for visitors

LA Times  

China has ended COVID-19 curbs that confined millions of people to their homes, but hospitals have been flooded with patients. Companies welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday announced restrictions on visitors from the country as infections surge. He said ending the quarantine “clears …

China’s Covid surge hits factories and consumer market
2 years ago

China’s Covid surge hits factories and consumer market

CNN  

Hong Kong CNN — China’s economy is under severe strain as a wave of Covid cases sweeps across the country. “The number of people on the streets has dropped off sharply from already subdued levels across the country,” said analysts from Capital Economics in a research note last week. Last week, home sales by floor area plunged 44% in the …

In our 'profound interest' that China reins in latest surge in coronavirus infections: Antony Blinken
2 years ago

In our 'profound interest' that China reins in latest surge in coronavirus infections: Antony Blinken

The Hindu  

It is in America's "profound interest" that China reins in the recent surge in coronavirus infections, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, asserting that there are major implications if the world's second-largest economy remained shut down due to the virus. When asked about the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in China, Mr. Blinken said the U.S. wants to …

One-day tally of COVID cases in China hits 37 million: Report
2 years ago

One-day tally of COVID cases in China hits 37 million: Report

Al Jazeera  

Nearly 37 million people in China may have been infected with COVID-19 on a single day this week, the Bloomberg news agency has reported, citing minutes from an internal meeting of the country’s National Health Commission held on Wednesday. Concerns over official statistics On Thursday, health data firm Airfinity estimated that there are likely more than 5,000 daily deaths and …

Covid: 71% Indians want all flights from China to be shut down, finds survey
2 years ago

Covid: 71% Indians want all flights from China to be shut down, finds survey

Live Mint  

As Covid cases surge in China, a recent survey showed that 71% citizens feel that India should shut down flights from China. The survey asked citizens, “COVID led by new variants like BF.7 is rapidly rising in China in regard to both infections spreading and mortalities. There were 16% respondents who said “It should only suspend flights from China and …

China rushes to build hospital beds, US says covid situation in China a concern
2 years ago

China rushes to build hospital beds, US says covid situation in China a concern

Live Mint  

China rushed to install hospital beds across cities and build fever screening clinics amid a surge in covid cases in the country. We’ve seen that over the course of many different permutations of this virus and certainly another reason why we are so focused on helping countries around the world address COVID, another reason why bringing this to a close …

China’s lingering COVID fears cloud global travel rebound
2 years ago

China’s lingering COVID fears cloud global travel rebound

Al Jazeera  

Chinese spent $288bn on international travel in 2018, nearly one-quarter of the global spending on tourism. Earlier this month, Beijing announced it would “optimise” its COVID policies by allowing mild cases to quarantine at home, as well as limiting lockdowns, scrapping mass testing, and lifting curbs on domestic travel. “So even when they can travel, we don’t think they will …

China COVID Surge: Explosion Of Coronavirus Cases, Over A Million Deaths Through 2023, Say IHME Projections
2 years ago

China COVID Surge: Explosion Of Coronavirus Cases, Over A Million Deaths Through 2023, Say IHME Projections

ABP News  

New Delhi: After China's stringent COVID-19 restrictions were abruptly lifted following unprecedented protests under the Xi Jinping regime, the U.S.-based Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation has projected that the lifting of curbs could result in an explosion of cases and over a million deaths through 2023. This projection comes as China's national health authority is yet to report any …

China vows to drop some travel tracking in COVID rule easing
2 years ago

China vows to drop some travel tracking in COVID rule easing

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China said it would stop tracking some travel, potentially reducing the likelihood people will be forced into quarantine for visiting COVID-19 hot spots, as part of an uncertain exit from the strict pandemic policies that helped fuel widespread protests. The move follows the government’s dramatic announcement last week that it was ending many of the strictest measures, following …

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

Beijing under semi-lockdown as new COVID-19 cases hit China
2 years, 1 month ago

Beijing under semi-lockdown as new COVID-19 cases hit China

The Hindu  

The coronavirus situation in China has become grim again with the number of COVID-19 cases rising to over 25,000, including more than 500 in Beijing, prompting city officials to advise millions of residents to stay home this weekend and undergo daily testing. Beijing wore an eerie look on Saturday with most of its residents staying home after several districts in …

China eases Zero-COVID policy, removes curbs on international flights and cuts quarantine time
2 years, 1 month ago

China eases Zero-COVID policy, removes curbs on international flights and cuts quarantine time

India TV News  

China COVID regulations: China has trimmed the quarantine time for inbound travellers and scrapped curbs on international flights, as it began to ease its stringent Zero-COVID policy. On the domestic front, China has adjusted quarantine requirements for close contacts of confirmed cases from seven days of centralised quarantine plus three days of health observation at home to five days of …

Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou
2 years, 1 month ago

Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou

Associated Press  

BEIJING — A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou, adding to financial pressure that has disrupted global supply chains and sharply slowed growth in the world’s second-largest economy. Residents in districts encompassing almost 5 million people have been ordered to stay home at least through Sunday, with one member of each …

Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou
2 years, 2 months ago

Virus lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou

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 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 {{ …

COVID-19 lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou
2 years, 2 months ago

COVID-19 lockdowns hit China economic powerhouse Guangzhou

India TV News  

Highlights A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub Residents in districts encompassing almost 5 mn people have been ordered to stay home The order came after densely populated city of 13 mn reported over 2,500 new cases China lockdown 2022 : A surge in COVID-19 cases has spurred lockdowns in the southern Chinese …

Covid outbreaks surge in China as authorities double down on disruptive, repressive curbs
2 years, 2 months ago

Covid outbreaks surge in China as authorities double down on disruptive, repressive curbs

Firstpost  

President Xi Jinping, who secured a historic third term in power, has signalled that China will continue to pursue its strict zero-Covid approach even as the measures have weighed on economic growth Beijing: It is again in China, the zero-Covid policy has now forced the authorities to double down curbs and seal up buildings and lock down cities spanning from …

China tightens up COVID-19 restrictions ahead of Communist Party National Congress, leaving travellers stranded
2 years, 2 months ago

China tightens up COVID-19 restrictions ahead of Communist Party National Congress, leaving travellers stranded

ABC  

Thousands of travellers from Beijing have been ordered not to come home, as authorities tighten COVID-19 precautions ahead of the Communist Party's National Congress. Key points: Thousands of people have posted on social media asking for help to remove the "pop-ups" preventing them from travelling Beijing authorities recently introduced a series of other measures including reinforcing COVID monitoring teams at …

China imposes lockdowns as COVID-19 surges after holiday
2 years, 2 months ago

China imposes lockdowns as COVID-19 surges after holiday

Associated Press  

BEIJING — Chinese cities were imposing fresh lockdowns and travel restrictions after the number of new daily COVID-19 cases tripled during a weeklong holiday, ahead of a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing next week. The latest lockdown started Monday in Fenyang city in northern China’s Shanxi province after a preliminary positive case was found in citywide testing the previous …

Hong Kong to give away 500,000 free flights worth £225milllion
2 years, 3 months ago

Hong Kong to give away 500,000 free flights worth £225milllion

Daily Mail  

Tourists will be offered free flights to Hong Kong in a bid to drive up visitor numbers, which have fallen by tens of millions a year since the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, in 2019, 56 million people visited Hong Kong as a whole, while just 184,000 visitors came to the city in the first eight months of this year …

Hong Kong to end quarantine after outcry from firms, residents
2 years, 3 months ago

Hong Kong to end quarantine after outcry from firms, residents

Al Jazeera  

Move to lift travel restriction comes amid fears the former British colony is losing its competitive edge. Travellers to the city currently must undergo three days of hotel quarantine followed by four days of medical surveillance, during which they are restricted from entering certain venues including bars and restaurants. Hong Kong, which has been caught between mainland China’s ultra-strict “zero-COVID” …

China shuts down world’s largest electronic market after COVID spike
2 years, 4 months ago

China shuts down world’s largest electronic market after COVID spike

India TV News  

Highlights China’s technology hub Shenzhen ordered closure of world’s largest electronics wholesale market Decision was taken to contain a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the southern city Key manufacturing enterprises ordered to follow a “closed-loop” system China’s technology hub Shenzhen on Monday ordered the closure of the world’s largest electronics wholesale market to contain a recent spike in coronavirus …

US suspends Chinese airline flights in COVID-19 dispute
2 years, 4 months ago

US suspends Chinese airline flights in COVID-19 dispute

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The U.S. government is suspending 26 flights by Chinese airlines from the United States to China in a dispute over anti-virus controls after Beijing suspended flights by American carriers. The Department of Transportation on Thursday complained Beijing violated an air travel agreement and treated airlines unfairly under a system that requires them to suspend flights if passengers test …

US suspends 26 Chinese flights in response to Beijing’s similar action
2 years, 4 months ago

US suspends 26 Chinese flights in response to Beijing’s similar action

Live Mint  

The United States Transportation Department in an order stated that the country has suspended 26 passenger flights operated by Chinese carriers. "We, therefore, conclude that the public interest now requires a further modification, effective immediately, of Order 2020-6-1, to limit Chinese carriers' scheduled services accordingly," the order said on Thursday. The Transportation Department said the Civil Aviation Authority of China …

With Millions Still Under Lockdown, China Adds More Curbs Across Cities
2 years, 4 months ago

With Millions Still Under Lockdown, China Adds More Curbs Across Cities

News 18  

Several COVID-hit Chinese cities from the country’s east to west imposed fresh restrictions and lockdowns on their populations on Thursday to contain flare-ups that are again threatening to disrupt local economies. Reducing people’s unnecessary movement for a few days – a softer type of lockdown – as soon as dozens of new cases emerge is a key practice of China’s …

Cathay Pacific losses narrow as COVID-19 restrictions ease
2 years, 4 months ago

Cathay Pacific losses narrow as COVID-19 restrictions ease

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific Airways said Wednesday that losses in the first half of the year narrowed as a relaxation in quarantine rules boosted passenger numbers. The company reported losses of about $5 billion Hong Kong dollars in the first six months, down from 7.57 billion Hong Kong dollars in the same period last year. Cathay’s …

China’s Wuhan shuts businesses, transport over 4 COVID cases
2 years, 5 months ago

China’s Wuhan shuts businesses, transport over 4 COVID cases

Al Jazeera  

Nearly 1 million residents affected by new restrictions in city where the pandemic first emerged. China’s Wuhan has ordered some businesses and public transport to close after authorities discovered four COVID-19 cases in the sprawling city where the pandemic first emerged. Wuhan’s Jiangxia district, home to nearly 1 million residents, said on Wednesday it would ban large group events and …

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