Travelers reaching China will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test result starting this Friday, April 29, as the country has decided to drop such a rule in an attempt to revive its economy.
Announcing the news, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Mao Ning, said at a press briefing in Beijing that from April 29, travelers could instead show a negative rapid antigen test result, VisaGuide.World reports.
Ning further said that the airlines would no longer be required to check the proof and stressed that the authorities took such a decision to further facilitate cross-border travel.
“To further facilitate cross-border travel, China is taking new steps to refine pre-departure testing requirements guided by the principle of ensuring safe and orderly travel and keeping the measures science-based and well-targeted,” the statement of Ning reads.
The decision of China to no longer keep in place strict entry rules for travelers also follows the improvement of the COVID-19 situation in the country. He Qinghua, who is an official of the National Health Commission, said earlier this week that the number of infection cases in the country dropped to the lowest level in April since December.
In addition, he said that massive outbreaks are unlikely to happen even though the figures slightly started to increase since the middle of April.
Data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that China has reported only 1,255 Coronavirus infection cases in the last seven days. WHO further shows that during the same period, China has recorded seven deaths linked to COVID infection.
China has been keeping strict Coronavirus entry rules over the last three years in an attempt to protect public health and prevent the further spread of the virus. However, these rules had a negative impact on the country’s economy, sparking protests.
In order to help the country revive its economy as well as its travel and tourist sector, China has already started issuing all types of visas for all foreigners, regardless of their country of origin.
Apart from issuing all types of visas, China has also reactivated all visas that have been issued before March 28, 2022. This means that those who already hold a valid visa will not be required to apply for it again in order to be permitted entry to China.
In addition to the above-mentioned, China has also resumed visa-free entry for arrivals from several countries, making it easier for them to reach the country for travel and other purposes.
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