China to Downgrade Its COVID-19 Management

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, China will cancel inbound quarantine for international arrivals, and vows to orderly resume Chinese citizens' outbound travel as part of an overall plan to downgrade the country's COVID-19 management from January 8 of 2023.

Travelers to China are required to take a nucleic acid test 48 hours before departure and those with negative results can enter the country without having to apply for a green health code from Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. They need to fill in the results in the customs health declaration forms. If they test positive, traveling to China will be allowed after the results turn negative.

Furthermore, COVID-19 testing and centralized isolation for all overseas travelers entering China will be canceled, and those with a normal health declaration and no abnormality in routine quarantines at the customs port can be green-lighted to social mobility, according to the plan.

All airlines should continue to do a good job in on-board epidemic prevention, and passengers must wear masks when boarding, the rules said.

Additionally, the plan eyes a continued improvement in arrangements for foreign nationals traveling to China for work and production resumption, business, study, family visits and reunions. Visa applications under these scenarios will be facilitated, according to the plan.

Passenger entry and exit at sea and land ports will be gradually resumed.

Outbound travel of Chinese citizens will also be resumed in an orderly manner, in accordance with the global epidemic situation and varied service guarantee capabilities.

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, China Daily)