The massive corona wave that is currently sweeping China is leading to a test requirement for travelers from the People’s Republic in several countries. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning is sharply critical, although strict entry regulations were still in place in China until mid-December.
Against the background of the massive corona wave in China, the government in Beijing has spoken out against strict entry regulations from other countries for travelers from the People’s Republic. “The measures should not affect normal travel,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told the press in Beijing. She also pointed out that Chinese authorities have shared information about the recent spread of the virus in China with other countries in a “timely, open and transparent” manner.
The spokeswoman was responding to the testing requirement for travelers from China, which some countries have introduced over fears of potential new virus variants. Mao Ning said experts see no need for this because variants could arise anywhere in the world. Responses should be “science-based and appropriate”. “No one should seize the opportunity to engage in political manipulation or discriminatory responses.”
Since 2020, China itself has imposed strict entry restrictions, has hardly issued any visas and has demanded a quarantine until December. China has also submitted genome data from recent cases to the Munich-based global science initiative GISAID, which promotes free access to information on influenza and Covid-19 viruses. “A few days ago,” Chinese authorities also held a virtual meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO), in which the two sides exchanged views on the current situation, clinical treatments, vaccinations and other technical issues, Mao Ning said.
After almost three years of lockdowns, mass testing and forced quarantine, China abruptly announced an end to its zero-Covid policy on December 7th. The most populous country is currently experiencing a huge corona wave, which particularly affects people who are old or have previous illnesses. Hospitals are overwhelmed, crematoria can’t cremate the corpses fast enough. It is estimated that tens of thousands may have died.
China no longer publishes figures on the infection situation. According to officially unconfirmed internal estimates, 248 million people or 18 percent of the population were infected with Corona in the first three weeks of December alone. The wave has peaked in major cities and is sweeping rural areas this month, state media said.
