Coronavirus | China seeks to ease travel curbs to stabilise economy
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus | China seeks to ease travel curbs to stabilise economy

The Hindu  

China has reached an agreement with South Korea to set up a “fast track” procedure for business people to travel between the countries as Beijing looks to ease an entry ban on foreigners imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19. With the deadly disease spreading globally, China last month blocked almost all foreigners from entering as authorities fretted over cases being imported from abroad. Beijing is also in talks with other countries, including Singapore, to set up a similar channel to stabilise economic cooperation and ensure supply chains run smoothly, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a press briefing Tuesday. The novel coronavirus, first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has since spread like wildfire and killed more than 1,67,000 people worldwide with cases reported in over 190 countries.

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History of this topic

How COVID-19 Transformed China’s Domestic and International Trajectory
14 hours, 29 minutes 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 …

China downplays reports of flu outbreak, says safe to travel in country
1 week ago

China downplays reports of flu outbreak, says safe to travel in country

India Today  

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 …

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

Nation facilitates int'l travel as demand rises
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Nation facilitates int'l travel as demand rises

China Daily  

Skiers make the best of the patchy snow cover at the Adelboden resort in the Swiss Alps on Friday. "The resumption of flights between the two countries is a major contributor to the spike in Chinese tourist arrivals," said Shi Bang, director of the board at Switzerland-based LOTO Travel Agency AG. At present, international passenger flights link China with 70 …

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 to remain alert even as WHO declares COVID-19 global emergency over
1 year, 8 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 …

U.S. to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China as early as Friday
1 year, 10 months 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 …

China’s post-pandemic travel plans slowed by eight-week wait for visas to Europe
1 year, 11 months 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 …

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 …

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 update: China faces challenge due to flawed containment policies, ineffective vaccines, says Report

India TV News  

China COVID-19 update : China is facing a significant challenge in the form of COVID-19, due to the Chinese Communist Party's "flawed and regressive containment policies and ineffective domestically produced vaccines," GeoPolitica.info reported. China's COVID-19 containment strategy has affected Chinese people and has caused major discontent among people in the country, as per the GeoPolitica.info report. Vaccines manufactured in China …

Countries politicizing COVID-19 response harm others without benefiting themselves
1 year, 11 months ago

Countries politicizing COVID-19 response harm others without benefiting themselves

China Daily  

Travelers walk at Capital International Airport in Beijing. Countries imposing entry restrictions on China travelers should listen to these voices and adopt a fact-based manner, make their COVID-19 response scientific, avoid political manipulation and discriminative measures, and maintain normal cross-border exchanges and cooperation. As the world is facing increased downward pressure on the global economy, China's optimization of the COVID-19 …

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS
1 year, 11 months ago

COVID-19 update: China reports nearly 60,000 coronavirus deaths since December 2022| DETAILS

India TV News  

China COVID deaths : China today reported nearly 60,000 deaths in people who had COVID-19 since early December following complaints the government was failing to release data about the status of the pandemic. The death toll included 5,503 deaths due to respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 and 54,435 fatalities from other ailments combined with COVID-19. The National Health Commission said …

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 …

China Covid surge not expected to 'significantly impact' Europe: WHO
2 years ago

China Covid surge not expected to 'significantly impact' Europe: WHO

Hindustan Times  

The director of the World Health Organization’s Europe office said Tuesday that the agency sees “no immediate threat" for the European region from a COVID-19 outbreak in China, but more information is needed. Other countries including the U.S., India, Japan, South Korea and several European nations have announced tougher COVID-19 measures on travelers from China amid concerns over a lack …

China Suspends Travel Visa For South Koreans Amid Protests Of COVID Curbs
2 years ago

China Suspends Travel Visa For South Koreans Amid Protests Of COVID Curbs

ABP News  

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday announced the suspension of its short-term visa service for South Koreans in retaliation against the country's regulations travellers from the neighbouring country in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak. China Welcomes First Batch Of International Travellers After Scrapping Quarantine Norms For the first time in three years, China on Sunday opened its …

China suspends visas for South Koreans in retaliation for Covid test mandate for its flyers
2 years ago

China suspends visas for South Koreans in retaliation for Covid test mandate for its flyers

India Today  

China suspended visas Tuesday for South Koreans to come to the country for tourism or business in apparent retaliation for COVID-19 testing requirements on Chinese travelers. A brief notice posted online by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said the ban would apply until South Korea lifted its “discriminatory measures on entrance by China” to the country. Around a dozen countries …

China halts travel visas for South Korea, Japan over COVID curbs
2 years ago

China halts travel visas for South Korea, Japan over COVID curbs

Al Jazeera  

Beijing suspends issuing visas for South Korean and Japanese nationals in an apparent retaliation to COVID-19 restrictions imposed on Chinese travellers. China has suspended issuing short-term visas for South Korean and Japanese nationals, its embassies in Seoul and Tokyo said on Tuesday, in an apparent retaliation against COVID-19 restrictions imposed on Chinese travellers in the wake of a spike in …

China enters new phase of COVID response
2 years ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

BEIJING -- From Jan 8, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic …

China enters new phase of COVID response
2 years ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

From Sunday, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic response posed serious …

China enters new phase of COVID response
2 years ago

China enters new phase of COVID response

China Daily  

BEIJING -- From Jan 8, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. Confronted with epidemic uncertainties, China has always been putting people's lives and health first, adapting its COVID response in light of the evolving situation. The fast-changing features of the virus and the complicated evolution of epidemic …

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days
2 years ago

China's 'Great Migration' Kicks-off Under Shadow of Covid, 2 Billion People to Travel in 40 Days

News 18  

China on Saturday marked the first day of “chun yun”, the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel known pre-pandemic as the world’s largest annual migration of people, bracing for a huge increase in travellers and the spread of COVID-19 infections. “China’s rural areas are wide, the population is large, and the per capita medical resources are relatively insufficient,” National …

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 …

China chief epidemiologist's assurance on Covid stats amid criticism
2 years ago

China chief epidemiologist's assurance on Covid stats amid criticism

Hindustan Times  

In what is being viewed as statement in rebuttal to general criticism about data on coronavirus, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on Friday stressed that the country "has always worked to collect, analyse and assess statistics" on the pandemic as the details are key to tackling the pandemic. At a briefing on …

China seeks to minimise COVID-19 risk during travel rush
2 years ago

China seeks to minimise COVID-19 risk during travel rush

The Hindu  

China is seeking to minimise the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month’s Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of most pandemic containment measures. People using public transport are also urged to wear masks and pay special attention to their health and personal hygiene, Vice Minister Xu Chengguang told reporters at a briefing. China abruptly …

China seeks to minimize COVID-19 risk during travel rush
2 years ago

China seeks to minimize COVID-19 risk during travel rush

Associated Press  

BEIJING — China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month’s Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of most pandemic containment measures. People using public transport are also urged to wear masks and pay special attention to their health and personal hygiene, Vice Minister Xu Chengguang told reporters at a briefing. …

China seeks to minimise possibility of major COVID-19 outbreak during travel rush
2 years ago

China seeks to minimise possibility of major COVID-19 outbreak during travel rush

Firstpost  

China abruptly ended a strict regime of lockdowns, quarantines and mass testing in December amid growing concerns about the economic impact and rare public protests in a country that permits no open political dissent Beijing: China is seeking to minimize the possibility of a major new COVID-19 outbreak during this month’s Lunar New Year travel rush following the end of …

More EU countries demand negative coronavirus test for travelers from China
2 years ago

More EU countries demand negative coronavirus test for travelers from China

NL Times  

Germany, Greece, Austria, and Sweden are asking for proof of a negative coronavirus test from people traveling in from China. The four European countries are taking precautions partly because the European Union said on Wednesday evening in new advice about China that tests are, “Strongly recommended.” It was also advised to wear face masks on flights from China and to …

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures
2 years ago

Beijing threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ virus measures

Associated Press  

BEIJING — The Chinese government sharply criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on visitors from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a …

Airline trade body slams COVID rules on travellers from China
2 years ago

Airline trade body slams COVID rules on travellers from China

Al Jazeera  

Criticism from International Air Transport Association comes as EU weighs bloc-wide rules on arrivals from China. The head of the world’s biggest airline trade group has criticised the nations imposing travel restrictions on visitors from China as the European Union moved to coordinate the response to a mounting COVID-19 crisis. A European Commission spokesman said the “overwhelming majority” in the …

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 …

EU, Beijing heading for collision over China’s COVID crisis
2 years ago

EU, Beijing heading for collision over China’s COVID crisis

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The European Union and China on Tuesday moved closer to a political standoff over the COVID-19 crisis, with Beijing vehemently rejecting travel restrictions some EU nations have started to impose that could be expanded in coming days. A special EU health security committee joining representatives from the EU member nations discussed potential measures Tuesday, and EU spokesman Tim …

China warns of measures against ‘unacceptable’ travel restrictions
2 years ago

China warns of measures against ‘unacceptable’ travel restrictions

The Hindu  

The Chinese government said on January 3, 2023 it would take “corresponding measures” based on “reciprocity” as it slammed what it called “unacceptable” travel restrictions imposed recently by many countries on travellers from China. Following the surge in COVID-19 cases in China in the wake of the phasing out of “zero-COVID” measures on December 7, a number of countries have …

EU and Beijing heading for collision over China’s COVID-19 crisis
2 years ago

EU and Beijing heading for collision over China’s COVID-19 crisis

LA Times  

A passenger arriving from China is tested for COVID-19 at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, on Sunday. A special EU health security committee joining representatives from the EU member nations discussed potential measures Tuesday, and EU spokesman Tim McPhie said that “the overwhelming majority of countries are in favor of pre-departure testing” in China. Sweden, which holds the EU …

China blasts ‘unacceptable’ COVID curbs on travellers
2 years ago

China blasts ‘unacceptable’ COVID curbs on travellers

Al Jazeera  

The US, Canada, Japan and France are among more than a dozen countries that have put curbs on travellers from China. China has called the mounting international restrictions on travellers from its territory “unacceptable” after more than a dozen countries placed new coronavirus curbs on visitors from the world’s most populous nation. An “overwhelming majority” of the EU’s 27 member …

Beijing threatens response to toughened COVID measures for Chinese travelers
2 years ago

Beijing threatens response to toughened COVID measures for Chinese travelers

LA Times  

The Chinese government blasted coronavirus testing requirements imposed on travelers from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily news briefing …

Unreliable data, new variants? Here's why Covid outbreak in China is causing concern
2 years ago

Unreliable data, new variants? Here's why Covid outbreak in China is causing concern

India Today  

China, a nation of 1.4 billion, is reeling under a Covid outbreak, with some reports estimating 9,000 cases every day. Here's why it's sparking concern: UNRELIABLE DATA China has admitted the scale of the outbreak has become "impossible" to track following the end of mandatory mass testing last month. The global health body World Health Organisation has asked China for …

China's Xi Jinping has a plot to infect the world, spread new Covid-19 variant, warns Mike Pompeo
2 years ago

China's Xi Jinping has a plot to infect the world, spread new Covid-19 variant, warns Mike Pompeo

Firstpost  

Washington: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping has a plot to infect the world and spread a new Covid-19 variant. The former Trump official told radio host John Catsimatidis that Covid could rapidly spread across the globe because more Chinese residents are now free to travel after the Xi administration dropped its strict …

China Covid surge puts world on alert: Canada, Australia, Morocco impose restrictions on Chinese travellers
2 years ago

China Covid surge puts world on alert: Canada, Australia, Morocco impose restrictions on Chinese travellers

Firstpost  

Canberra: As China continues to witness a surge in Covid-19 cases following its relaxation of stringent ‘zero-Covid’ rules, authorities around the world have started imposing or considering restrictions and curbs on travellers from the Asian nation. Countries imposing Covid-19 curbs on travellers from China Australia Travellers from China visiting Australia will have to submit a negative Covid-19 test from 5 …

Canada, Australia impose rules on travellers from China
2 years ago

Canada, Australia impose rules on travellers from China

The Hindu  

Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travellers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. Australian health authorities said on January 1 that from January 5 all air travellers from …

Canada, Australia impose COVID rules on travelers from China
2 years ago

Canada, Australia impose COVID rules on travelers from China

Associated Press  

BEIJING — Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries requiring travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus after abruptly easing restrictions that were in place for much of the pandemic. Australian health authorities said Sunday that from Jan 5. all air travelers …

Which countries have placed COVID curbs on travellers from China?
2 years ago

Which countries have placed COVID curbs on travellers from China?

Al Jazeera  

Governments cite a lack of information from Beijing on variants as they express concerns over a new wave of infections. United Kingdom The UK will require a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test from passengers from China as of January 5, the Department of Health said on Friday. Spain Spain says it will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course …

Australia, Canada impose COVID curbs on travellers from China
2 years ago

Australia, Canada impose COVID curbs on travellers from China

Al Jazeera  

Australia, Canada and Morocco are the latest to impose restrictions on travellers from China amid surge in COVID-19 cases. Australian Health Minister Mark Butler on Sunday cited Beijing’s “lack of comprehensive information” about COVID-19 cases as the reasoning behind the travel requirement, which will take effect on January 5. The Canadian government also cited “the limited epidemiological and viral genomic …

China's manufacturing activity drops despite lifted COVID restrictions
2 years ago

China's manufacturing activity drops despite lifted COVID restrictions

Firstpost  

For more than two years, China had insisted on a zero-COVID strategy of stamping out outbreaks with strict quarantines, lockdowns and mass testing Beijing, China: China’s manufacturing activity contracted sharply in December for the third month in a row, according to official figures released Saturday, despite Beijing’s loosening of COVID restrictions at the beginning of the month. For more than …

China's manufacturing activity contracts ‘sharply’ in December despite lifted Covid restrictions
2 years ago

China's manufacturing activity contracts ‘sharply’ in December despite lifted Covid restrictions

Hindustan Times  

China's manufacturing activity contracted sharply in December for the third month in a row, according to official figures released Saturday, despite Beijing's loosening of Covid restrictions at the beginning of the month. The Purchasing Managers' Index -- a key gauge of manufacturing in the world's second-biggest economy -- came in at 47 points, down from November's 48 and well below …

Niesters: Illusion to think you can stop coronavirus
2 years ago

Niesters: Illusion to think you can stop coronavirus

NL Times  

Whether it is right for the government to offer travelers from China only a voluntary self-test for the coronavirus, virologist Bert Niesters does not know. The virologist explained that he is sometimes shocked at the number of people infected on flights from China. That is why, according to Niesters, it is important for China to continue testing for the coronavirus …

China faces bumpy road to normal as infections surge
2 years ago

China faces bumpy road to normal as infections surge

Associated Press  

BEIJING — After three years of quarantines pushed them close to shutting down, restaurant owner Li Meng and his wife are hoping for business to rebound after China rolled back severe anti-virus controls. “People are going back to work, and I’ve seen children in the malls,” said Yang Mingyue, a 28-year-old Beijing resident. “If the virus were highly infectious and …

State media says Covid curbs on Chinese travellers ‘discriminatory’
2 years ago

State media says Covid curbs on Chinese travellers ‘discriminatory’

Hindustan Times  

Beijing: Chinese state media on Thursday said restrictions imposed by several countries, including India, on travellers from China were “discriminatory”, amid reports of Covid rampaging through the country after it reversed some of the world’s strictest virus-control policies in early December. “Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has been sharing relevant information and data with the international community, including …

‘Real intention is to sabotage’: China calls Covid curbs for Chinese travellers ‘discriminatory’
2 years ago

‘Real intention is to sabotage’: China calls Covid curbs for Chinese travellers ‘discriminatory’

Firstpost  

Countries including India, United States, South Korea, Italy, Japan and Taiwan have imposed mandatory COVID tests for travellers from China after the country reported spike in cases Beijing: Several countries have announced mandatory testing for travellers from China in response to a surging wave of Covid-19 infection in the Asian nation. For the unversed, India, United States, South Korea, Italy, …

WHO says China COVID travel restrictions ‘understandable’
2 years ago

WHO says China COVID travel restrictions ‘understandable’

Al Jazeera  

Many countries are imposing restrictions on travellers from China because of a surge in infections. The World Health Organization has said it needs more information to assess the latest surge in COVID-19 infections in China, but called the global concern and uptick in travel restrictions “understandable”. Several countries are imposing restrictions on travellers from China because of a surge in …

Covid data transparent, insists China as nations impose more travel curbs
2 years ago

Covid data transparent, insists China as nations impose more travel curbs

India Today  

When China, a country of 1.4 billion people, suddenly decided to end zero-Covid policy three years into the pandemic, there was an explosion in number of fresh cases. READ | China may become breeding ground for new Covid variants as cases spike: Experts This created a Covid scare forcing countries to begin testing of fliers from China and elsewhere. Covid …

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