Coronavirus: China asks foreign diplomats to stay away until June 1

Beijing extends travel advisory for envoys and other mission workers for two weeks as nation remains on high alert to risk of importing new infections from overseas

China hopes embassies ‘continue to understand and cooperate’ with its control measures, foreign ministry says

Reading Time:2 minutes

China introduced a temporary ban on foreigners entering the country at the end of March. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:55pm, 16 May 2020Updated: 11:24pm, 16 May 2020

Foreign embassies in China have been advised to postpone the return of diplomats and personnel rotation for a further two weeks until June 1 to reduce the risk of importing new coronavirus cases from overseas, according to multiple diplomatic sources.

The news comes after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 3 advised foreign diplomats to China currently outside the country not to return until May 15, after earlier prohibiting all foreigners, including those with visas and residence permits, from entering the country.

In a reply to the Post’s request for comment on the matter, the ministry said it appreciated the “strong support and cooperation” of foreign embassies with regards to China’s measures to contain the coronavirus and appealed for their continued backing amid “great pressure to prevent imported infections”.

While China has largely brought Covid-19 under control at home, the deadly disease continues to wreak havoc elsewhere. As of Saturday morning, there had been over 4.5 million confirmed cases around the world and more than 307,000 deaths.

Beijing is desperate to prevent a second wave of infections as it sets about rebooting its stalled economy.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x