US warns citizens travelling to China over risk of family separations, strict Covid-19 controls
- The US State Department specifically warns against travel to Jilin, Shanghai and Hong Kong, where it says there is a risk from ‘arbitrary’ law enforcement
- Shanghai is at the centre of an outbreak, with a strict lockdown causing growing public discontent
The United States has warned Americans thinking of travelling to China that they may be subject to “arbitrary” local law enforcement and coronavirus restrictions.
“Do not travel to the PRC [People’s Republic of China]’s Hong Kong special administrative region, Jilin province and Shanghai municipality due to Covid-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated,” the travel alert released by the US Department of State on Friday said.
“Reconsider travel to the PRC’s Hong Kong [Special Administrative Region] due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”
It also said China’s zero-tolerance approach would severely hit travel and access to public services, while all travellers should prepare to quarantine at a government-designated location for a minimum of 14 days upon arrival.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also issued a level one travel health notice for China, meaning caution for disease outbreaks or crises that disrupt a country’s medical infrastructure.