Coronavirus: China closes door to British, Belgian and Philippine visitors
- Suspension is ‘a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19’, embassies say
- All three countries have struggled to bring the deadly disease under control
The announcement was made in near-identical statements published on Wednesday and Thursday on the websites of China’s embassies in the three countries.
Entry to China had been suspended for all British, Belgian and Philippine nationals regardless of whether their visas or residence permits were still valid, the notices said, adding that Chinese embassies and consulates would no longer issue health declaration forms to those affected.
“The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19,” the statements said.
“The above-mentioned measures will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.”
The restriction would not apply to members of the diplomatic service, or international transport workers, like airline crews, the embassies said.