China's National Health Commission (NHC) announced that it will relax some measures limiting the movement of foreigners into the country because of the risk of covid-19 spread.
After almost three years of having maintained strong restrictions the Chinese regime announced that as of January 8, 2010, it will permit border controls to be relaxed allowing international visitors to enter the country by showing a negative PCR test result within 48 hours prior to flight departure.
It should be recalled that new arrivals in China are currently required to undergo health examinations before entering a quarantine of eight days, of which five were to be in a designated center or hotel and another three at home.
In addition, the granting of visas will be standardized, restrictions on the number of international flights that may enter the country and the number of passengers that may travel on each aircraft will be eliminated. However, the requirement for face masks during travel will be maintained.
Moments after China said it would reopen its borders to international travel for the first time in three years, sales of air tickets out of the country soared, as people leapt at the chance to put zero-Covid behind them.@raffaelehuang @rachelliang5602https://t.co/xGVEK82bIU
— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) December 27, 2022
Regrowth without recount
The decision to relax the measures comes at a difficult time due to the increase in the number of infected people throughout the country.
Local media have already reported that hospitals and funeral homes are overcrowded and that no real record of the outbreak is being kept.
In fact, recently an epidemiologist named Wang Guiqiang admitted that currently only deaths from pneumonia or respiratory failure are counted, leaving out all deaths from underlying ailments.
4) The deaths in mainland China is being hugely underreported outside of 🇨🇳. Through a survey of hospitals, funeral parlors & related funeral industry chains in Beijing—there is a recent explosion in funeral services caused by the sharp increase in deaths.https://t.co/zm1rxeDUoJ pic.twitter.com/blDsaKjoqG
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 19, 2022
Japan to tighten border controls
In view of the announcement of the relaxation, Japan decided to protect itself by increasing the requirements for travelers coming from China.
According to Fumio Kishida, Japan's Prime Minister, people coming from China will be asked to undergo a PCR test and, in case of positive results, they will have to remain in quarantine for seven days.
"Concern has increased in Japan, as it is difficult to understand the true extent of the situation (in China)," Kishida explained.
