China says it will track new Covid variants from inbound travellers

A new control plan will also allow local authorities to curb gatherings and order workplaces and schools to go online
The country is already battling a surge in cases and overseas travellers arriving ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday risk importing new variants

Coronavirus China

Zhenzhen Liu

Published: 8:49pm, 7 Jan 2023

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China will monitor new Covid-19 variants from inbound travellers by collecting samples from hospitals and using genome sequencing under a new control plan announced on Saturday.

It will also allow local governments to reimpose restrictions on gatherings, order workplaces and schools to go online, and suspend “non-essential activities”, including events, performances and conferences.

The country has already seen a surge in cases after lifting restrictions last month, and is worried that the arrival of travellers from overseas poses a further rise after its borders reopen on Sunday.

The announcement coincides with the start of the Lunar New Year travel rush – the largest movement of people on the planet.

“Prevention and control measures are generally not required under normal circumstances,” said the statement, but added that “temporary measures may be taken, depending on the rate of infection in the population and the strain on medical resources”.

The new rules end quarantine for inbound travellers and people can now enter with a negative Covid test result taken within 48 hours of departure.

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The transport ministry said on Saturday that international ships will no longer need approval in advance to change crews when docked in China and quarantine and test requirements will be lifted.

While the current outbreak in China is largely being driven by the BF. 7 and BA. 5.2 variants of Omicron, two new strains – BQ. 1 and XBB, which have dominated in the United States – have been detected in Shanghai from travellers from overseas.

The Chinese authorities have stopped counting the number of daily cases and narrowed the definition of what counts as a Covid death – prompting concerns from foreign governments and the World Health Organization about a lack of transparency.

A number of countries, including the US, Japan, South Korea and many in Europe, now require Chinese travellers to provide a negative test.

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Liang Wannian, who leads the National Health Commission’s response team, said in a briefing on Friday that China has yet to set a timeline for ending its pre-travel testing requirement.

He added that customs officials will be urged to test goods being exported to ease concerns about transmissions through international shipments.

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The statement also stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring there were adequate testing resources available in the community.

Other measures, including surveillance of hospitals and sewage in urban areas, will also be used as part of the early warning system for Covid infections and the emergence of new variants.