China lifted quarantine requirements for inbound travellers on Sunday, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation even as the country battles a surge in Covid cases.
The first people to arrive expressed relief at not having to undergo the gruelling quarantines that were a fixture of life in zero-Covid China.
The policy had a huge impact on the world's second-biggest economy and generated resentment throughout society that led to nationwide protests just before it was eased. But the expected surge in visitors has led more than a dozen countries to impose mandatory Covid tests on travellers from the world's most populous nation as it battles its worst-ever outbreak.
And Beijing has moved to curb criticism of its chaotic path out of zero-Covid, with its Twitter-like Weibo service saying it had recently banned 1,120 accounts for"offences against experts and scholars".At Beijing airport Sunday, barriers that once kept international and domestic arrivals apart were gone, as were the"big whites" -- staff in hazmat suits long a fixture of life in zero-Covid China.
"I'm quite happy not needing to be in quarantine," another woman being picked up by her boyfriend who declined to give her name told AFP.In China's southern semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong, visitors streamed across the border as travel restrictions with the Chinese mainland were eased.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taiwan is planning satellite internet amid China invasion fears after seeing Starlink in Ukraine | Business InsiderTaiwan's digital minister, Audrey Tang, told the FT: 'We look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how Starlink has been used very successfully.'
Read more »
China’s deep-pocketed tourists are staying home, for now | BusinessContradicting concerns that tourist hotspots will be strained once again by Chinese revelers, travel agencies are struggling to persuade people to book trips. | News24_Business
Read more »
SA finds its first case of most transmissible Covid variant | BusinessSouth Africa has found its first case of a coronavirus infection caused by the new, XBB.1.5 variant, nicknamed the 'kraken variant' by some for its ability to spread. | News24_Business
Read more »
China in talks with Pfizer for generic Covid drug - sources | News24China is in talks with Pfizer Inc to secure a licence that will allow domestic drugmakers to manufacture and distribute a generic version of the US firm's Covid-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid in China, three sources told Reuters.
Read more »
China's 'great migration' kicks-off under shadow of Covid-19China on Saturday marked the first day of 'chun yun', the 40-day period of Lunar New Year travel known pre-pandemic as the world's largest annual migration of people, bracing for a huge increase in travellers and the spread of Covid-19 infections.
Read more »
China to monitor travellers at borders for new Covid-19 variantChina will monitor travellers to the country at some border-crossings for infections of a new Covid-19 variant and allow local governments to reimpose mobility curbs on residents to prevent outbreaks after the country reopens its borders Sunday.
Read more »