China won't require COVID-19 testing for incoming travelers starting Wednesday

AP , Monday 28 Aug 2023

China will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test result from incoming travelers starting Wednesday.

A traveler walks through the international flight arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Air
A traveler walks through the international flight arrivals area at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, on April 26, 2023. AP

 

It is a milestone toward ending the virus restrictions imposed in China since early 2020.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the change at a briefing Monday.

China ended its “zero-COVID” policy only in December, after years of draconian curbs that at times included full-city lockdowns and lengthy quarantines for people who were infected.

As part of those measures, incoming travelers were required to quarantine for weeks at government-designated hotels.

The curbs slowed the world’s second-largest economy, leading to rising unemployment and rare instances of unrest.

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